Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Pine County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 46 lakes in Pine County. The 10 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Island Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 24.1 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 13 inches. Cross Lake is second at B+, with 11.5 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 2% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Pokegama Lake is third at B+, and its biggest yellow perch was 9 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island Lake | A | 527 | 24.1/net in gill nets | 23% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cross Lake | B+ | 925 | 11.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Pokegama Lake | B+ | 1,522 | 5.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Pine Lake | B | 399 | 45.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Oak Lake | B− | 459 | 19.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Dago Lake | C+ | 118 | — | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2006 |
| 7 | Grindstone Lake | C+ | 533 | — | 0% | 4" | — | 2025 |
| 8 | Fox Lake | C+ | 200 | 11.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2014 |
| 9 | Sturgeon Lake | C | 1,706 | 1/net in gill nets | 10% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Upper Pine Lake | C− | 233 | 4/net in gill nets | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Pine County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch 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.