Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Scott County
15 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Scott County; the 6 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.
Cedar Lake leads at grade A, with 15 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Spring Lake is next at A−, 15.4 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 3% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. McMahon Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Lake | A | 793 | 15/net in gill nets | 63% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Spring Lake | A− | 592 | 15.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | McMahon Lake | B+ | 187 | 21.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Upper Prior Lake | B− | 386 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 10% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Fish Lake | B− | 176 | 3/net in gill nets | 45% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lower Prior Lake | C | 956 | 1.1/net in gill nets | 11% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Scott 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.