Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near Mankato
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 39 lakes within 25 miles of Mankato. Of those, 22 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.
Elysian (Main Lake) is first at A. The DNR caught 15.5 walleye per gill net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 25 inches. Madison Lake is second at A−, with 6.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 66% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Loon Lake 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 | 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 | 66% | 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 | 18% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Tetonka Lake | B+ | 1,358 | 4.8/net in gill nets | 34% | 26" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | B+ | 379 | 11/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Lura Lake | B+ | 1,359 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 66% | 27" | 3.5 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Bass Lake | B+ | 199 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Gorman Lake | B+ | 521 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 24% | 25" | 1.8 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 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.