Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Scott County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 12 lakes in Scott County. The 7 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Spring Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 11.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 27 inches. Cedar Lake is second at A−, with 12 walleye per gill net in the 2021 survey, and 3% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Upper Prior Lake is third at B+, and its biggest walleye was 27 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Lake | A− | 592 | 11.3/net in gill nets | 21% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | A− | 793 | 12/net in gill nets | 3% | 25" | 0.8 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Upper Prior Lake | B+ | 386 | 6/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | O'Dowd Lake | B+ | 301 | 8/net in gill nets | 16% | 25" | 1.7 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | McMahon Lake | B | 187 | 5.4/net in gill nets | 86% | 26" | 3.4 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lower Prior Lake | B | 956 | 3/net in gill nets | 17% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Fish Lake | C | 176 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 3% | 22" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Scott County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.