Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes near St. Paul
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 103 lakes within 25 miles of St. Paul. Of those, 31 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.
Forest Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 7.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 27 inches. East Vadnais Lake is second at A−, with 11.5 walleye per gill net in the 2014 survey, and 29% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Lotus Lake is third at B+, and its biggest walleye was 27 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Lake | A | 2,271 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 31% | 27" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | East Vadnais Lake | A− | 393 | 11.5/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.1 lb | 2014 |
| 3 | Lotus Lake | B+ | 245 | 10/net in gill nets | 24% | 27" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Nokomis Lake | B+ | 201 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 24% | 24" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Bald Eagle Lake | B+ | 1,049 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 31% | 26" | 2 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Upper Prior Lake | B+ | 386 | 6/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Turtle Lake | B+ | 450 | 7/net in gill nets | 15% | 25" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Clear Lake | B+ | 429 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 27" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 607 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 22" | 1.4 lb | 2020 |
| 10 | Harriet Lake | B | 341 | 6/net in gill nets | 16% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked near St. Paul: 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.