Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes near Brainerd
195 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit within 25 miles of Brainerd; 73 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.
Whitefish Lake leads at grade A, with 19.6 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Round Lake is next at A, 20.9 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 6% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Gull Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitefish Lake | A | 7,714 | 19.6/net in gill nets | 5% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Round Lake | A | 1,650 | 20.9/net in gill nets | 6% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Gull Lake | A | 10,010 | 10.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Edward Lake | A− | 2,628 | 11.1/net in gill nets | 10% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Shamineau Lake | A− | 1,434 | 17.3/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Green Prairie Fish Lake | A− | 183 | 22.8/net in gill nets | 12% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Rock Lake | A− | 261 | 22.5/net in gill nets | 17% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Lower Hay Lake | A− | 700 | 11.2/net in gill nets | 6% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Hubert Lake | B+ | 1,301 | 6.6/net in gill nets | 8% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Fish Trap Lake | B+ | 1,164 | 15.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Brainerd: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.