Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Todd County
40 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Todd County; 17 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Lake Osakis leads at grade A, with 6.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Birch Lake is next at A, 7 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 20% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Sauk Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 28-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 6.5/net in gill nets | 12% | 27" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Big Birch Lake | A | 2,107 | 7/net in gill nets | 20% | 29" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Sauk Lake | A | 2,126 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 28" | 1.6 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 | 22% | 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 | Maple Lake | C+ | 388 | 1.8/net in gill nets | 48% | 27" | 3.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Cedar Lake | C+ | 139 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 32% | 25" | 2.6 lb | 2022 |
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 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.