MN · ranked by public data
64 Itasca County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for walleye; 64 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 839 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 29 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Itasca County, MN
92.7 within-system score · 935.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 4.33 fish/net set · 2015 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
85.8 within-system score · 1,353.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 3.83 fish/net set · 1975 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
84.2 within-system score · 1,655.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 3 fish/net set · 1990 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
65.1 within-system score · 670.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 2.75 fish/net set · 1961 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
28.0 within-system score · 79 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.75 fish/net set · 1999 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
14.8 within-system score · 53.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.25 fish/net set · 1977 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
14.0 within-system score · 35.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.17 fish/net set · 2004 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
5.9 within-system score · 21.9 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.25 fish/net set · 1989 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer june mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 1 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Itasca County, MN
90.0 within-system score · 411.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.67 fish/net set · 1949 DNR survey
Itasca County, MN
67.1 within-system score · 242.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.83 fish/net set · 2020 DNR survey
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | DNR status | Walleye stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Johnson Lake | Itasca | 434 | 61.1 | index 243.1 | 0.56 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 4 | Hartley Lake | Itasca | 288 | 58.8 | index 193 | 0.67 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 5 | Little Bass Lake | Itasca | 161 | 53.6 | index 133.2 | 0.83 fish/net set | 2017 | No record | — |
| 6 | Leighton Lake | Itasca | 245 | 38.6 | index 122.7 | 0.5 fish/net set | 1978 | No record | — |
| 7 | Hale Lake | Itasca | 130 | 4.6 | index 32.6 | 0.25 fish/net set | 1984 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 25 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bass Lake | Itasca | 2,715 | 90.0 | index 15,476.3 | 5.7 fish/net set | 1977 | No record | — |
| 2 | Grave Lake | Itasca | 525 | 72.2 | index 2,450.1 | 4.67 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| 3 | Little Jay Gould Lake | Itasca | 150 | 35.3 | index 299.9 | 2 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| 4 | Crooked Lake | Itasca | 465 | 30.0 | index 362.6 | 0.78 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 5 | Balsam Lake | Itasca | 716 | 9.2 | index 157.5 | 0.22 fish/net set | 1983 | No record | — |
| 6 | Hart Lake | Itasca | 328 | 6.3 | index 72.2 | 0.22 fish/net set | 2007 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | King Lake | Itasca | 311 | 97.2 | index 1,605.9 | 5.17 fish/net set | 2009 | No record | — |
| 2 | Buck Lake | Itasca | 495 | 84.3 | index 1,539.6 | 3.11 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| 3 | Little Bowstring Lake | Itasca | 326 | 81.0 | index 1,142.7 | 3.5 fish/net set | 2021 | No record | — |
| 4 | Little Ball Club Lake | Itasca | 185 | 53.8 | index 553.6 | 3 fish/net set | 1973 | No record | — |
| 5 | Little Moose Lake | Itasca | 289 | 10.7 | index 95.3 | 0.33 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| 6 | Gunderson Lake | Itasca | 183 | 10.6 | index 91.7 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2020 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 1 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Big Too Much Lake | Itasca | 292 | 90.0 | index 233.6 | 0.8 fish/net set | 1985 | No record | — |
| 2 | Antler Lake | Itasca | 234 | 77.6 | index 156.8 | 0.67 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 3 | Johnson Lake | Itasca | 434 | 72.1 | index 217 | 0.5 fish/net set | 1986 | No record | — |
| 4 | Leighton Lake | Itasca | 245 | 32.8 | index 81 | 0.33 fish/net set | 2019 | No record | — |
| 5 | Bello Lake | Itasca | 527 | 5.5 | index 58 | 0.11 fish/net set | 2007 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 3 3 to 8 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Little Winnibigoshish Lake | Itasca | 1,002 | 98.3 | index 12,520.3 | 12.5 fish/net set | 2017 | No record | — |
| 2 | Deer Lake | Itasca | 1,855 | 55.9 | index 9,272.9 | 5 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 3 | Island Lake | Itasca | 3,108 | 50.7 | index 11,406.9 | 3.67 fish/net set | 1979 | No record | — |
| 4 | Jessie Lake | Itasca | 1,740 | 26.6 | index 6,786.2 | 3.9 fish/net set | 1978 | No record | — |
| 5 | Little Jessie Lake | Itasca | 628 | 19.3 | index 3,974.8 | 6.33 fish/net set | 2019 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 1 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Leighton Lake | Itasca | 245 | 90.0 | index 981.8 | 4 fish/net set | 1973 | No record | — |
| 2 | Johnson Lake | Itasca | 434 | 37.3 | index 247.4 | 0.57 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| 3 | Bello Lake | Itasca | 527 | 33.0 | index 226.8 | 0.43 fish/net set | 1985 | No record | — |
| 4 | Hale Lake | Itasca | 130 | 10.0 | index 43 | 0.33 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 29 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Jay Gould Lake | Itasca | 552 | 95.6 | index 1,721.4 | 3.12 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| 2 | Little Sand Lake | Itasca | 353 | 80.0 | index 1,201.4 | 3.4 fish/net set | 1990 | No record | — |
| 3 | Dead Horse Lake | Itasca | 105 | 20.9 | index 263.2 | 2.5 fish/net set | 1988 | No record | — |
| 4 | Big Sucker Lake | Itasca | 259 | 13.2 | index 302.6 | 1.17 fish/net set | 2019 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 2 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Burrows Lake | Itasca | 306 | 84.3 | index 458.3 | 1.5 fish/net set | 2010 | No record | — |
| 2 | Beatrice Lake | Itasca | 124 | 73.1 | index 247.6 | 2 fish/net set | 2011 | No record | — |
| 3 | Eagle Lake | Itasca | 285 | 20.3 | index 142.7 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2016 | No record | — |
| 4 | Little Bear Lake | Itasca | 131 | 7.7 | index 108.8 | 0.83 fish/net set | 2001 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 22 standard gill nets normal 4 to 9 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bowstring Lake | Itasca | 9,528 | 96.7 | index 215,145.2 | 22.58 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| 2 | Deer Lake | Itasca | 4,093 | 41.9 | index 25,093 | 6.13 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| 3 | Cut Foot Sioux Lake | Itasca | 2,771 | 13.8 | index 9,698.7 | 3.5 fish/net set | 1996 | No record | — |
| 4 | Ball Club Lake | Itasca | 4,335 | 0.7 | index 4,898.9 | 1.13 fish/net set | 1998 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 25 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bass Lake | Itasca | 2,715 | 100.0 | index 11,403.6 | 4.2 fish/net set | 2021 | No record | — |
| 2 | Grave Lake | Itasca | 525 | 9.3 | index 393.5 | 0.75 fish/net set | 1974 | No record | — |
| 3 | Little Long Lake | Itasca | 305 | 9.2 | index 252.8 | 0.83 fish/net set | 2000 | No record | — |
| 4 | Balsam Lake | Itasca | 716 | 4.0 | index 315 | 0.44 fish/net set | 1978 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Little Turtle Lake | Itasca | 492 | 98.4 | index 2,674.7 | 5.44 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| 2 | Little Ball Club Lake | Itasca | 185 | 19.0 | index 276.8 | 1.5 fish/net set | 1979 | No record | — |
| 3 | Busties Lake | Itasca | 245 | 17.7 | index 203.5 | 0.83 fish/net set | 2021 | No record | — |
| 4 | Buck Lake | Itasca | 495 | 0.0 | index 163.4 | 0.33 fish/net set | 1976 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 25 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Grave Lake | Itasca | 525 | 90.0 | index 682 | 1.3 fish/net set | 1969 | No record | — |
| 2 | Crooked Lake | Itasca | 465 | 74.3 | index 413.7 | 0.89 fish/net set | 2005 | No record | — |
| 3 | Balsam Lake | Itasca | 716 | 12.1 | index 57.3 | 0.08 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| 4 | Little Long Lake | Itasca | 305 | 11.3 | index 51.8 | 0.17 fish/net set | 2015 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 3 3 to 8 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Jessie Lake | Itasca | 1,740 | 90.0 | index 22,116.2 | 12.71 fish/net set | 1958 | No record | — |
| 2 | Island Lake | Itasca | 3,108 | 73.2 | index 18,027.3 | 5.8 fish/net set | 2010 | No record | — |
| 3 | Deer Lake | Itasca | 1,855 | 15.3 | index 3,245.5 | 1.75 fish/net set | 1981 | No record | — |
| 4 | Little Jessie Lake | Itasca | 628 | 4.7 | index 2,021.9 | 3.22 fish/net set | 1958 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 29 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Beauty Lake | Itasca | 216 | 90.0 | index 935.8 | 4.33 fish/net set | 2005 | No record | — |
| 2 | Little Sand Lake | Itasca | 353 | 59.8 | index 590.1 | 1.67 fish/net set | 2016 | No record | — |
| 3 | Little Split Hand Lake | Itasca | 244 | 13.7 | index 122 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2024 | No record | — |
| 4 | Dead Horse Lake | Itasca | 105 | 6.7 | index 105.3 | 1 fish/net set | 2009 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 3 3 to 8 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Jessie Lake | Itasca | 1,740 | 100.0 | index 35,375.4 | 20.33 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| 2 | Little Jessie Lake | Itasca | 628 | 20.2 | index 3,560.4 | 5.67 fish/net set | 2010 | No record | — |
| 3 | Little Winnibigoshish Lake | Itasca | 1,002 | 0.0 | index 2,674.3 | 2.67 fish/net set | 1974 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 2 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Burrows Lake | Itasca | 306 | 97.1 | index 204.7 | 0.67 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| 2 | Beatrice Lake | Itasca | 124 | 45.0 | index 82.9 | 0.67 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 3 | Big Ole Lake | Itasca | 217 | 16.3 | index 108.5 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2001 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 34 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Island Lake | Itasca | 285 | 91.8 | index 476.4 | 1.67 fish/net set | 2006 | No record | — |
| 2 | Dixon Lake | Itasca | 622 | 65.0 | index 485.5 | 0.78 fish/net set | 2015 | No record | — |
| 3 | Dunbar Lake | Itasca | 268 | 8.7 | index 267.7 | 1 fish/net set | 2001 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 22 standard gill nets normal 4 to 9 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bowstring Lake | Itasca | 9,528 | 75.0 | index 57,168.8 | 6 fish/net set | 1975 | No record | — |
| 2 | Deer Lake | Itasca | 4,093 | 71.9 | index 33,525.6 | 8.19 fish/net set | 1948 | No record | — |
| 3 | Cut Foot Sioux Lake | Itasca | 2,771 | 10.0 | index 11,278.2 | 4.07 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 22 standard gill nets normal 4 to 9 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bowstring Lake | Itasca | 9,528 | 90.0 | index 96,520 | 10.13 fish/net set | 2008 | No record | — |
| 2 | Ball Club Lake | Itasca | 4,335 | 10.0 | index 10,708.1 | 2.47 fish/net set | 2014 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 28 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Clear Lake | Itasca | 140 | 90.0 | index 70.2 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2017 | No record | — |
| 2 | Arrowhead Lake | Itasca | 138 | 10.0 | index 34.6 | 0.25 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 34 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Dunbar Lake | Itasca | 268 | 100.0 | index 447.1 | 1.67 fish/net set | 2011 | No record | — |
| 2 | Island Lake | Itasca | 285 | 0.0 | index 285.3 | 1 fish/net set | 1991 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 35 standard gill nets normal 1 to 3 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Lawrence Lake | Itasca | 437 | 100.0 | index 1,065.5 | 2.44 fish/net set | 2010 | No record | — |
| 2 | Big Island Lake | Itasca | 244 | 0.0 | index 121.9 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2005 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 37 standard gill nets normal 1 to 4 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bluebill Lake | Itasca | 148 | 100.0 | index 110.7 | 0.75 fish/net set | 2003 | No record | — |
| 2 | Gunny Sack Lake | Itasca | 86 | 10.0 | index 28.3 | 0.33 fish/net set | 2003 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 5 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bear Lake | Itasca | 344 | 100.0 | index 2,409.8 | 7 fish/net set | 1997 | No record | — |
| 2 | Dora Lake | Itasca | 423 | 0.0 | index 181.9 | 0.43 fish/net set | 1986 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 34 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 5 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Dixon Lake | Itasca | 622 | 90.0 | index 1,039.4 | 1.67 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| 2 | Island Lake | Itasca | 285 | 10.0 | index 94.1 | 0.33 fish/net set | 2024 | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 5 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | |||||||||
| 1 | Bear Lake | Itasca | 344 | 100.0 | index 650.7 | 1.89 fish/net set | 2025 | No record | — |
| 2 | Dora Lake | Itasca | 423 | 0.0 | index 211.6 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2019 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 35 standard gill nets normal 1 to 3 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Lawrence Lake | Itasca | 437 | — | — | 0.78 fish/net set | 2022 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 5 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Bear Lake | Itasca | 344 | — | — | 3.33 fish/net set | 1969 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 28 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Clear Lake | Itasca | 140 | — | — | 0.67 fish/net set | 1978 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 33 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 3 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Little Deer Lake | Itasca | 67 | — | — | 0.33 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 1 3 to 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Little Ball Club Lake | Itasca | 185 | — | — | 0.67 fish/net set | 2018 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 0 5 to 2 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Burrows Lake | Itasca | 306 | — | — | 4 fish/net set | 1965 | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 35 standard gill nets normal 1 to 3 2 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | |||||||||
| — | Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake | Itasca | 619 | — | — | 0.75 fish/net set | 2023 | No record | — |
| Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical | |||||||||
| — | Bower Lake | Itasca | 93 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
| — | Burnt Shanty Lake | Itasca | 198 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
| — | Clearwater Lake | Itasca | 76 | — | — | — | — | No record | — |
| — | Larson Lake | Itasca | 208 | — | — | — | — | 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
58 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 Itasca County.
64 Itasca 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.