Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near Mankato
39 surveyed walleye lakes sit within 25 miles of Mankato; 22 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.
Elysian (Main Lake) leads at grade A, with 15.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 25-inch fish the biggest measured. Madison Lake is next at A−, 6.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 34% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Loon Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 26-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elysian (Main Lake) | A | 2,215 | 15.5/net in gill nets | 30% | 25" | 2.7 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Madison Lake | A− | 1,447 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 34% | 28" | 3.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Loon Lake | A− | 809 | 14.7/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 1.1 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Washington Lake | A− | 1,516 | 6.4/net in gill nets | 12% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | A− | 379 | 11/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Lura Lake | B+ | 1,359 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 66% | 27" | 3.5 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Bass Lake | B+ | 199 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Gorman Lake | B+ | 521 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 17% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Tetonka Lake | B+ | 1,358 | 4.8/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Frances Lake | B+ | 927 | 3.3/net in gill nets | 30% | 27" | 2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Mankato: Northern pike · Largemouth 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.