Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Stearns County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 52 lakes in Stearns County. Of those, 23 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.
Koronis (main lake) is first at A+. The DNR caught 22.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Rice Lake is second at A, with 10.6 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 20% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Pearl Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 27 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koronis (main lake) | A+ | 2,968 | 22.3/net in gill nets | 8% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Rice Lake | A | 1,513 | 10.6/net in gill nets | 20% | 29" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Pearl Lake | A− | 753 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 19% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B+ | 458 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 24% | 26" | 2 lb | 2017 |
| 5 | Cedar Island Lake | B+ | 986 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 28% | 28" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Two Rivers Lake | B+ | 584 | 4.6/net in gill nets | 24% | 29" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 14% | 25" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Eden Lake | B+ | 278 | 8.5/net in gill nets | 18% | 26" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Long Lake | B+ | 487 | 4.4/net in gill nets | 43% | 28" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Horseshoe Lake | B+ | 629 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 34% | 27" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Stearns County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.