Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Otter Tail County
143 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Otter Tail County; 51 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.
Otter Tail Lake leads at grade A, with 24.7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. North Turtle Lake is next at A, 47 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 4% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Little Pine Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otter Tail Lake | A | 14,079 | 24.7/net in gill nets | 5% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | North Turtle Lake | A | 1,773 | 47/net in gill nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Little Pine Lake | A− | 2,080 | 25.6/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Big Pine Lake | A− | 4,728 | 21.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Clear Lake | A− | 399 | 41/net in gill nets | 5% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | West Battle Lake | A− | 5,615 | 10.3/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Marion Lake | A− | 1,624 | 12.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Ellingson Lake | A− | 151 | 32.5/net in gill nets | 13% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2006 |
| 9 | Rush Lake | A− | 5,276 | 5.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Star Lake | A− | 4,486 | 7.4/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Otter Tail County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.