Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Todd County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 40 lakes in Todd County. Of those, 17 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.
Sauk Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 12.5 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Lake Osakis is second at A, with 6.5 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 12% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Big Birch Lake is third at A, and its biggest walleye was 29 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sauk Lake | A | 2,126 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 10% | 28" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 6.5/net in gill nets | 12% | 27" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Birch Lake | A | 2,107 | 7/net in gill nets | 23% | 29" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Little Sauk Lake | B | 278 | 6.6/net in gill nets | 47% | 25" | 2.8 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Little Birch Lake | B | 839 | 3/net in gill nets | 27% | 27" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Guernsey Lake | B | 121 | 8/net in gill nets | 37% | 24" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Mill Lake | B− | 171 | 5.7/net in gill nets | 22% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Big Swan Lake | B− | 947 | — | 74% | 27" | 3.6 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Cedar Lake | C+ | 139 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 32% | 25" | 2.6 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Maple Lake | C+ | 388 | 1.8/net in gill nets | 48% | 27" | 3.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Todd 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.