Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near Grand Rapids
123 surveyed walleye lakes sit within 25 miles of Grand Rapids; 33 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.
Pokegama Lake leads at grade A, with 7.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Deer Lake is next at A, 6.1 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 24% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Siseebakwet Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 23-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokegama Lake | A | 6,721 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 34% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Deer Lake | A | 4,094 | 6.1/net in gill nets | 24% | 27" | 2 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Siseebakwet Lake | A− | 1,210 | 29.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 23" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Swan Lake | A− | 2,456 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 27" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Trout Lake | A− | 1,862 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 22% | 24" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Bass Lake | A− | 2,715 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 28% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Wabana Lake | B+ | 2,221 | 3.7/net in gill nets | 22% | 27" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Split Hand Lake | B+ | 1,374 | 6/net in gill nets | 23% | 25" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Moose Lake | B+ | 1,273 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 18% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Hill Lake | B+ | 794 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 37% | 29" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Grand Rapids: 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.