Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in McLeod County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 11 lakes in McLeod County. The 7 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Marion Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 26.6 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 29 inches. Swan Lake is second at B+, with 13.4 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 10% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Silver Lake is third at B−, and its biggest walleye was 25 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion Lake | A | 520 | 26.6/net in gill nets | 16% | 29" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Swan Lake | B+ | 352 | 13.4/net in gill nets | 10% | 26" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Silver Lake | B− | 453 | — | 33% | 25" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Cedar Lake | B− | 1,860 | — | 100% | 25" | 6.2 lb | 2018 |
| 5 | Otter Lake | B− | 642 | — | 2% | 25" | — | 2025 |
| 6 | Round Grove Lake | C+ | 296 | — | 15% | 24" | 0.9 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Stahl's Lake | C | 141 | 3/net in gill nets | 72% | 23" | 3.3 lb | 2018 |
Also ranked in McLeod County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye lakes in Minnesota
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.