Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Rice County
17 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Rice County; 16 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.
Cody Lake leads at grade A−, with 44 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Wells Lake is next at A−, 22.8 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2020 survey, 4% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Phelps Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Lake | A− | 259 | 44/net in gill nets | 13% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Wells Lake | A− | 678 | 22.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 3 | Phelps Lake | A− | 303 | 20.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2015 |
| 4 | Cannon Lake | A− | 1,593 | 23.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Rice Lake | A− | 331 | 25/net in gill nets | 4% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2015 |
| 6 | Lower Sakatah Lake | A− | 372 | 16/net in gill nets | 11% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 7 | French Lake | B+ | 876 | 12.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Roberds Lake | B | 632 | 6/net in gill nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Union Lake | B | 397 | 43.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2015 |
| 10 | Shields Lake | B | 941 | 2.9/net in gill nets | 16% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Rice 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.