Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes near Minneapolis
158 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit within 25 miles of Minneapolis; 39 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.
Centerville Lake leads at grade A−, with 18 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Independence Lake is next at A−, 30.5 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Bald Eagle Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centerville Lake | A− | 474 | 18/net in gill nets | 5% | 13" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Independence Lake | A− | 832 | 30.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Bald Eagle Lake | A− | 1,049 | 24.2/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Clear Lake | A− | 429 | 38.4/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Spring Lake | A− | 592 | 15.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Harriet Lake | B+ | 341 | 17.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | McMahon Lake | B+ | 187 | 21.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Twin Lake | B | 217 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 9 | Nokomis Lake | B | 201 | 42.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Minnetonka Lake | B− | 14,206 | 3.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near Minneapolis: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch 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.