Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near Duluth
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 34 lakes within 25 miles of Duluth. Of those, 11 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Wild Rice Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 15.9 walleye per gill net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Island Lake Reservoir is second at A, with 4.9 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 12% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Fish Lake Flowage is third at A, and its biggest walleye was 26 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Rice Lake | A | 2,372 | 15.9/net in gill nets | 11% | 28" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Island Lake Reservoir | A | 8,001 | 4.9/net in gill nets | 12% | 31" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Fish Lake Flowage | A | 3,259 | 8/net in gill nets | 40% | 26" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Boulder Lake | A− | 3,260 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 8% | 25" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Pike Lake | B+ | 488 | 15.6/net in gill nets | 6% | 24" | 1.1 lb | 2019 |
| 6 | Caribou Lake | B+ | 539 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 29% | 24" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Grand Lake | B | 1,665 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 20% | 23" | 1.8 lb | 2019 |
| 8 | Spring Lake | C+ | 98 | — | 0% | 19" | 3 lb | 2008 |
| 9 | Hay Lake | C+ | 140 | 4/net in gill nets | 16% | 25" | 2.1 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Fond du Lac Reservoir | C | 201 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 14% | 22" | 0.8 lb | 2015 |
Also ranked near Duluth: 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.