Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Polk County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 16 lakes in Polk County. The 9 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.
Sand Hill Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 23.5 yellow perch per gill net in the 2018 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Hill River Lake is second at B+, with 19 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 3% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Sarah 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 | Sand Hill Lake | A | 479 | 23.5/net in gill nets | 36% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2018 |
| 2 | Hill River Lake | B+ | 102 | 19/net in gill nets | 3% | 17" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Sarah Lake | B | 366 | 11/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 4 | Whitefish Lake | B− | 243 | 25.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Badger Lake | B− | 256 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 14% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2016 |
| 6 | Maple Lake | C+ | 1,641 | 5.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Crystal Lake | C+ | 118 | — | 0% | 5" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Spring Lake | C | 134 | 12/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Union Lake | C | 888 | 4.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Polk 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.