Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Wright County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 65 lakes in Wright County. Of those, 32 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.
Buffalo Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 8.8 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 27 inches. Cokato Lake is second at A−, with 8.1 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 24% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Howard Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 28 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo Lake | A− | 1,552 | 8.8/net in gill nets | 19% | 27" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cokato Lake | A− | 553 | 8.1/net in gill nets | 24% | 28" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Howard Lake | A− | 745 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 52% | 28" | 3.3 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | French Lake | A− | 346 | 9/net in gill nets | 19% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Clearwater Lake | B+ | 3,187 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 43% | 28" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Collinwood Lake | B+ | 639 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 12% | 25" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 597 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 41% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2019 |
| 8 | Pulaski Lake | B | 813 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 53% | 28" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Sugar Lake | B | 1,014 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 51% | 31" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Beebe Lake | B | 323 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 25% | 25" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Wright 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.