MN · ranked by public data
33 Cook County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for walleye; 33 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 756 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within standard summer august mn class 12 standard gill nets normal 3 to 9 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Cook County, MN
90.3 within-system score · 4,807.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 19 fish/net set · 1991 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
85.3 within-system score · 4,957.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 12.14 fish/net set · 2021 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
73.8 within-system score · 4,113.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 9.11 fish/net set · 2012 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
53.1 within-system score · 1,392.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 6.83 fish/net set · 2018 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
37.5 within-system score · 1,375.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 3.17 fish/net set · 1988 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
28.1 within-system score · 472.5 lake-scale opportunity index · 3.17 fish/net set · 2018 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
18.3 within-system score · 343.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 2.67 fish/net set · 2005 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
10.0 within-system score · 175.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.33 fish/net set · 2025 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 3 to 13 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Cook County, MN
96.8 within-system score · 4,628.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 13.5 fish/net set · 2013 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
83.3 within-system score · 5,282.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 7.33 fish/net set · 2022 DNR survey
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | DNR status | Walleye stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Crescent Lake | Cook | 755 | 79.4 | index 4,721.8 | 6.25 fish/net set | 2024 | No record | — |
| 4 | Devilfish Lake | Cook | 405 | 44.3 | index 1,214.6 | 3 fish/net set | 1955 | No record | — |
| 5 | Aspen Lake | Cook | 141 | 28.6 | index 211.9 | 1.5 fish/net set | 2020 | No record | — |
| 6 | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | 10.2 | index 81.9 | 0.67 fish/net set | 1987 | No record | — |
| 7 | Gull Lake | Cook | 168 | 4.3 | index 55.4 | 0.33 fish/net set | 1985 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 3 to 13 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Deer Yard Lake | Cook | 343 | 93.8 | index 5,599.1 | 16.33 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| 2 | Crescent Lake | Cook | 755 | 82.1 | index 9,571.9 | 12.67 fish/net set | 1985 | No record | — |
| 3 | Caribou Lake | Cook | 721 | 71.4 | index 5,361.4 | 7.44 fish/net set | 2011 | No record | — |
| 4 | Devilfish Lake | Cook | 405 | 42.1 | index 987.9 | 2.44 fish/net set | 2016 | No record | — |
| 5 | Gull Lake | Cook | 168 | 27.5 | index 307.2 | 1.83 fish/net set | 2017 | No record | — |
| 6 | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | 0.0 | index 81.9 | 0.67 fish/net set | 1984 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 12 standard gill nets normal 3 to 9 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Homer Lake | Cook | 434 | 82.6 | index 3,111.5 | 7.17 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| 2 | Elbow Lake | Cook | 408 | 77.8 | index 3,131.9 | 7.67 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| 3 | Lichen Lake | Cook | 253 | 63.4 | index 1,981.1 | 7.83 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| 4 | Binagami Lake | Cook | 117 | 45.1 | index 1,055.8 | 9 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| 5 | Bouder Lake | Cook | 129 | 43.2 | index 1,158.3 | 9 fish/net set | 2002 | No record | — |
| 6 | Finger Lake | Cook | 204 | 10.0 | index 1,053.9 | 5.17 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 1 standard gill nets normal 0 6 to 9 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Brule Lake | Cook | 4,327 | 90.0 | index 34,267.5 | 7.92 fish/net set | 1983 | No record | — |
| 2 | Devil Track Lake | Cook | 1,876 | 67.0 | index 8,012.1 | 4.27 fish/net set | 2024 | No record | — |
| 3 | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4,009 | 46.1 | index 7,056.1 | 1.76 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| 4 | Clearwater Lake | Cook | 1,344 | 0.2 | index 268.9 | 0.2 fish/net set | 1984 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 17 standard gill nets normal 2 3 to 9 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Holly Lake | Cook | 76 | 90.0 | index 417.7 | 5.5 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| 2 | Bower Trout Lake | Cook | 133 | 49.3 | index 266.1 | 2 fish/net set | 2024 | No record | — |
| 3 | Christine Lake | Cook | 184 | 10.0 | index 123.1 | 0.67 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Hungry Jack Lake | Cook | 474 | 100.0 | index 1,740.6 | 3.67 fish/net set | 2016 | No record | — |
| 2 | East Bearskin Lake | Cook | 593 | 40.6 | index 1,038.3 | 1.75 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| 3 | Flour Lake | Cook | 330 | 0.0 | index 439.1 | 1.33 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 16 standard gill nets normal 3 2 to 13 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Fourmile Lake | Cook | 593 | 100.0 | index 7,186.6 | 12.12 fish/net set | 2021 | No record | — |
| 2 | Lake Clara | Cook | 388 | 0.0 | index 2,841.4 | 7.33 fish/net set | 2007 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 17 standard gill nets normal 2 3 to 9 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Christine Lake | Cook | 184 | 100.0 | index 490.5 | 2.67 fish/net set | 1995 | No record | — |
| 2 | Holly Lake | Cook | 76 | 0.0 | index 113.9 | 1.5 fish/net set | 1986 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | East Bearskin Lake | Cook | 593 | 65.0 | index 1,139.1 | 1.92 fish/net set | 1981 | No record | — |
| 2 | Flour Lake | Cook | 330 | 45.0 | index 1,099.3 | 3.33 fish/net set | 1981 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 1 standard gill nets normal 0 6 to 9 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4,009 | 55.0 | index 11,546.3 | 2.88 fish/net set | 1988 | No record | — |
| 2 | Devil Track Lake | Cook | 1,876 | 45.0 | index 7,186.5 | 3.83 fish/net set | 1993 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 13 standard gill nets normal 2 2 to 10 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Ball Club Lake | Cook | 206 | — | — | 10.67 fish/net set | 2012 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 13 standard gill nets normal 2 2 to 10 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Ball Club Lake | Cook | 206 | — | — | 10.83 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 15 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Little Iron Lake | Cook | 115 | — | — | 0.17 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 16 standard gill nets normal 3 2 to 13 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Lake Clara | Cook | 388 | — | — | 4.67 fish/net set | 2019 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 12 standard gill nets normal 3 to 9 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Bouder Lake | Cook | 129 | — | — | 7.83 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 15 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Little Iron Lake | Cook | 115 | — | — | 0.5 fish/net set | 2006 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Hungry Jack Lake | Cook | 474 | — | — | 3.89 fish/net set | 2020 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 3 to 13 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | — | — | 0.33 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical | |||||||||
| — | Bearskin Lake | Cook | 509 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
| — | Birch Lake | Cook | 236 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
| — | Leo Lake | Cook | 102 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
Methodology
County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 35% survey rate, and 10% recency. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide walleye ranking.
FAQ
28 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Cook County.
33 Cook County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder fisheries surveys, lake classes, morphology, and public-access records. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.