Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Pope County
19 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Pope County; 11 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Ann Lake leads at grade A+, with 180.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Minnewaska is next at A, 10 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 12% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Lake Reno rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Lake | A+ | 370 | 180.3/net in gill nets | 9% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Lake Minnewaska | A | 8,050 | 10/net in gill nets | 12% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lake Reno | A− | 3,809 | 21.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Malmedal Lake | B+ | 199 | 14/net in gill nets | 7% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lake Emily | B | 2,316 | 2.4/net in gill nets | 20% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Pelican Lake | B | 518 | 25.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Nelson Lake | B− | 293 | 28.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Westport Lake | B− | 203 | 26.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Lake Linka | C+ | 178 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Villard Lake | C | 544 | 0.8/net in gill nets | 22% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Pope 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.