Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near St. Cloud
95 surveyed walleye lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Cloud; 48 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.
Pearl Lake leads at grade A−, with 8.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. French Lake is next at A−, 9 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 19% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Big Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 26-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearl Lake | A− | 753 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 19% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | French Lake | A− | 346 | 9/net in gill nets | 19% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Lake | B+ | 458 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 24% | 26" | 2 lb | 2017 |
| 4 | Clearwater Lake | B+ | 3,187 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 34% | 28" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 14% | 25" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Two Rivers Lake | B+ | 584 | 4.6/net in gill nets | 24% | 29" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Eden Lake | B+ | 278 | 8.5/net in gill nets | 18% | 26" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 597 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 41% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Cedar Island Lake | B+ | 986 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 13% | 28" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Sugar Lake | B | 1,014 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 51% | 31" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near St. Cloud: 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.