Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Scott County
12 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Scott County; the 7 ranked here 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.
Spring Lake leads at grade A−, with 11.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at A−, 12 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey, 3% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Upper Prior Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.