Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Pope County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 19 lakes in Pope County. Of those, 11 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Ann Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 180.3 yellow perch per gill net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Lake Minnewaska is second at A, with 10 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 12% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Lake Reno is third at A−, and its biggest yellow perch was 9 inches.
| # | 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 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.