Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Pine County
17 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Pine County; the 7 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.
Dago Lake leads at grade B−, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Island Lake is next at B−, 3.2 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 14% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Pokegama Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 25-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dago Lake | B− | 118 | — | 100% | 27" | 5.3 lb | 2006 |
| 2 | Island Lake | B− | 527 | 3.2/net in gill nets | 14% | 24" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Pokegama Lake | B− | 1,522 | 2.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 25" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Sand Lake | B− | 527 | 2.2/net in gill nets | 57% | 25" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Sturgeon Lake | C+ | 1,706 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 38% | 22" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Cross Lake | C | 925 | 1.4/net in gill nets | 14% | 23" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Big Pine Lake | C | 399 | 2/net in gill nets | 6% | 23" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Pine County: Northern pike · Largemouth 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.