Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Nobles County
7 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Nobles County; the 5 ranked here 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.
Ocheda Lake leads at grade A−, with 18 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2009 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Okabena Lake is next at B, 4 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 50% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. East Graham Lake rounds out the top three at C+, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocheda Lake | A− | 1,691 | 18/net in gill nets | 21% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2009 |
| 2 | Okabena Lake | B | 776 | 4/net in gill nets | 50% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | East Graham Lake | C+ | 511 | 1.7/net in gill nets | 60% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | West Graham Lake | C+ | 519 | 7/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Indian Lake | C | 197 | 2.3/net in gill nets | 14% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Nobles County: Walleye · Crappie
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.