Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Rice County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 17 lakes in Rice County. Of those, 16 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.
Cody Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 44 yellow perch per gill net in the 2021 survey, and the biggest was 10 inches. Wells Lake is second at A−, with 22.8 yellow perch per gill net in the 2020 survey, and 4% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Phelps Lake is third at A−, and its biggest yellow perch was 11 inches.
| # | 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 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.