Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Washington County
31 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Washington County; the 6 ranked here 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.
Clear Lake leads at grade A−, with 38.4 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Marine Lake is next at B, 1.7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 55% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Forest Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clear Lake | A− | 429 | 38.4/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Big Marine Lake | B | 1,799 | 1.7/net in gill nets | 55% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Forest Lake | B | 2,271 | 14.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Square Lake | C | 203 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 50% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2016 |
| 5 | DeMontreville Lake | C | 157 | 6.4/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 6 | White Bear Lake | C− | 2,428 | 1.4/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Washington County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.