Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Pine County
46 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Pine County; the 10 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.
Island Lake leads at grade A, with 24.1 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Cross Lake is next at B+, 11.5 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Pokegama Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.