Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Meeker County
29 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Meeker County; 20 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.
Washington Lake leads at grade A−, with 9.2 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 26-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lake is next at A−, 13 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 32% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Big Swan Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 29-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Lake | A− | 2,438 | 9.2/net in gill nets | 12% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Long Lake | A− | 783 | 13/net in gill nets | 32% | 24" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Swan Lake | A− | 684 | 15.6/net in gill nets | 3% | 29" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Stella Lake | A− | 599 | 8/net in gill nets | 24% | 27" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Minnie-Belle Lake | A− | 597 | 9.4/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Jennie Lake | B+ | 1,069 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 21% | 29" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Belle Lake | B+ | 864 | 9/net in gill nets | 4% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Ripley (west portion) Lake | B | 614 | 4.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Greenleaf Lake | B | 238 | 6/net in gill nets | 26% | 27" | 2.2 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Clear Lake | B− | 529 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 63% | 26" | 3.6 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Meeker County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.