Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Martin County
19 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Martin County; 15 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Temperance Lake leads at grade A+, with 160 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Iowa Lake is next at A−, 20 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 17% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Okamanpeedan Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temperance Lake | A+ | 166 | 160/net in gill nets | 16% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Iowa Lake | A− | 705 | 20/net in gill nets | 17% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Okamanpeedan Lake | A− | 2,268 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 73% | 10" | 0.5 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Clear Lake | B+ | 267 | 13.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Hall Lake | B+ | 548 | 10.7/net in gill nets | 19% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Budd Lake | B+ | 228 | 24.7/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Willmert (main bay) Lake | B+ | 335 | 14.5/net in gill nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2019 |
| 8 | Cedar Lake | B | 707 | 2.7/net in gill nets | 23% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | East Chain Lake | B− | 481 | — | 25% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Perch Lake | B− | 174 | — | 25% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2014 |
Also ranked in Martin County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.