Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in McLeod County
11 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in McLeod County; the 8 ranked here 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.
Marion Lake leads at grade A, with 96.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Swan Lake is next at B+, 19.1 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Hook Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion Lake | A | 520 | 96.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Swan Lake | B+ | 352 | 19.1/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Hook Lake | B+ | 330 | 14.8/net in gill nets | 22% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2019 |
| 4 | Silver Lake | B | 453 | — | 43% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Todd Lake | C+ | 214 | — | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Winsted Lake | C+ | 382 | 11.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Cedar Lake | C+ | 1,860 | 1.4/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 8 | Otter Lake | C+ | 642 | 1.3/net in gill nets | 29% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in McLeod County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
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.