Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Washington County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 24 lakes in Washington County. The 6 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Forest Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 7.3 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 27 inches. Clear Lake is second at B+, with 7.5 walleye per gill net in the 2024 survey, and 4% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Bone Lake is third at B−, and its biggest walleye was 27 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Lake | A | 2,271 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 31% | 27" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Clear Lake | B+ | 429 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 27" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Bone Lake | B− | 221 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 8% | 27" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | White Bear Lake | C+ | 2,428 | 1.1/net in gill nets | 32% | 24" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Big Carnelian Lake | C− | 457 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 80% | 23" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Marine Lake | C− | 1,799 | 0.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 19" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Washington County: Northern pike · Largemouth 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.