Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Todd County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 43 lakes in Todd County. Of those, 19 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 151.6 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 10 inches. Maple Lake is second at A−, with 124.3 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 1% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Little Sauk Lake is third at A−, and its biggest yellow perch was 9 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sauk Lake | A | 2,126 | 151.6/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Maple Lake | A− | 388 | 124.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Little Sauk Lake | A− | 278 | 88.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Latimer Lake | B | 202 | 14.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 5 | Lake Osakis | B | 6,389 | 13/net in gill nets | 0% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Birch Lake | B | 2,107 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 15" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Guernsey Lake | B | 121 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Thunder Lake | B | 214 | 6/net in gill nets | 28% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Juergens Lake | B− | 117 | — | 100% | 10" | — | 2018 |
| 10 | Fawn Lake | B− | 125 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2018 |
Also ranked in Todd County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch 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.