Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near St. Cloud
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 95 lakes within 25 miles of St. Cloud. Of those, 48 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.
Pearl Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 8.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 27 inches. French Lake is second at A−, with 9 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 19% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Clearwater Lake is third at B+, and its biggest walleye was 28 inches.
| # | 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 | Clearwater Lake | B+ | 3,187 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 43% | 28" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B+ | 458 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 24% | 26" | 2 lb | 2017 |
| 5 | Cedar Island Lake | B+ | 986 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 28% | 28" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Two Rivers Lake | B+ | 584 | 4.6/net in gill nets | 24% | 29" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 14% | 25" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Eden Lake | B+ | 278 | 8.5/net in gill nets | 18% | 26" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Long Lake | B+ | 487 | 4.4/net in gill nets | 43% | 28" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 597 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 41% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2019 |
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 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.