Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Polk County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 14 lakes in Polk County. The 5 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.
Maple Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 10.5 walleye per gill net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Sarah Lake is second at A, with 15.5 walleye per gill net in the 2021 survey, and 32% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Union Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 30 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Lake | A | 1,641 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 21% | 28" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Sarah Lake | A | 366 | 15.5/net in gill nets | 32% | 29" | 2 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Union Lake | A− | 888 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 64% | 30" | 3 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Whitefish Lake | B+ | 243 | 11.3/net in gill nets | 37% | 26" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | C+ | 118 | 4/net in gill nets | 88% | 25" | 3.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Polk County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.