Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Meeker County
31 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Meeker County; 17 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.
Thompson Lake leads at grade A, with 110 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2013 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lake is next at A−, 13.7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 10% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Dunns Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thompson Lake | A | 226 | 110/net in gill nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2013 |
| 2 | Long Lake | A− | 783 | 13.7/net in gill nets | 10% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Dunns Lake | B | 152 | 274.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | — | 2024 |
| 4 | Jennie Lake | B | 1,069 | 14.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Clear Lake | B | 529 | 28.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Wolf Lake | B | 262 | 42.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Big Swan Lake | B− | 684 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Richardson Lake | B− | 119 | 34/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Belle Lake | B− | 864 | 10.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Washington Lake | C+ | 2,438 | 3.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Meeker County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.