Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Polk County
16 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Polk County; the 9 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.
Sand Hill Lake leads at grade A, with 23.5 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2018 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Hill River Lake is next at B+, 19 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 3% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Sarah 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 | 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 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.