Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Todd County
43 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Todd County; 19 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.
Sauk Lake leads at grade A, with 151.6 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Maple Lake is next at A, 124.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 1% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Little Sauk Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.