Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near Minneapolis
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 122 lakes within 25 miles of Minneapolis. Of those, 38 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.
Minnetonka Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 2.5 walleye per gill net in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 26 inches. Spring Lake is second at A−, with 11.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 21% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Independence Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 28 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnetonka Lake | A− | 14,206 | 2.5/net in gill nets | 38% | 26" | 2.6 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Spring Lake | A− | 592 | 11.3/net in gill nets | 21% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Independence Lake | A− | 832 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 46% | 28" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | East Vadnais Lake | A− | 393 | 11.5/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.1 lb | 2014 |
| 5 | Lotus Lake | B+ | 245 | 10/net in gill nets | 24% | 27" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Nokomis Lake | B+ | 201 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 24% | 24" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Bald Eagle Lake | B+ | 1,049 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 31% | 26" | 2 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Upper Prior Lake | B+ | 386 | 6/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Turtle Lake | B+ | 450 | 7/net in gill nets | 15% | 25" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | O'Dowd Lake | B+ | 301 | 8/net in gill nets | 16% | 25" | 1.7 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near Minneapolis: Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.