Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Wright County
65 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Wright County; 32 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.
Howard Lake leads at grade A−, with 5.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. French Lake is next at A−, 9 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 19% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Buffalo Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howard Lake | A− | 745 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 52% | 28" | 3.3 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | French Lake | A− | 346 | 9/net in gill nets | 19% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Buffalo Lake | B+ | 1,552 | 8.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 27" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Clearwater Lake | B+ | 3,187 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 34% | 28" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Cokato Lake | B+ | 553 | 8.1/net in gill nets | 6% | 28" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 597 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 41% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2019 |
| 7 | Pulaski Lake | B+ | 813 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 53% | 28" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Sugar Lake | B | 1,014 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 51% | 31" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Beebe Lake | B | 323 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 25% | 25" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Collinwood Lake | B | 639 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 5% | 25" | 1.5 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 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.