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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Walleye›Polk County

WI · ranked by public data

Best Walleye Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Polk County, Wisconsin

20 Polk County lakes have a DNR walleye status record; 20 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 250 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

  1. Ranked within adult population density — ranks restart at 1

    185.0system score
    229 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Magnor Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.32, -92.21229 acres | 26 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    85.0 within-system score · ~733 estimated adults · 3.2 adult fish/acre · 2019 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 85.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): about 733 adult walleye (3.2 adult fish/acre × 229 acres)
    • Survey rate (30%): 3.2 adult fish/acre
    • Survey recency (10%): 2019
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2019 adult mark-recapture estimate
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Walleye)
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  2. 210.0system score
    82 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Ward Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.61, -92.3282 acres | 43 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Northern Pike

    10.0 within-system score · ~180 estimated adults · 2.2 fish/acre · 2021 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 10.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): about 180 adult walleye (2.2 fish/acre × 82 acres)
    • Survey rate (30%): 2.2 fish/acre
    • Survey recency (10%): 2021
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2021 mark-recapture estimate
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Walleye)
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  3. Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    229 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Magnor Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.32, -92.21229 acres | 26 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank

    Why this lake is listed
    • No numeric rank: this survey system has no eligible same-system peer
    • Survey rate: 37.7 fish/mile
    • Survey recency: 2019
    • Survey method: 2019 spring fyke netting and electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Walleye)
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  4. Comparable spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net night) — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    229 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Magnor Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.32, -92.21229 acres | 26 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net night) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank

    Why this lake is listed
    • No numeric rank: this survey system has no eligible same-system peer
    • Survey rate: 21 fish/net-night
    • Survey recency: 2019
    • Survey method: 2019 spring fyke netting and electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Walleye)
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  5. Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical

    –
    1,901 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Balsam Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.47, -92.431,901 acres | 37 ft max4 public access pointsWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  6. –
    247 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Bear Trap Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.31, -92.41247 acres | 25 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  7. –
    208 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Blake Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.50, -92.33208 acres | 14 ft max2 public access pointsWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  8. –
    384 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Butternut Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.57, -92.46384 acres | 19 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Walleye)
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  9. –
    245 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.30, -92.54245 acres | 24 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
  10. –
    1,014 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Round Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWalleye stockedWater data
    45.52, -92.301,014 acres | 17 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Panfish

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Walleye)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Walleye stocking history (unscored context)
RankLakeCountyAcresSystem scorePrimary score signalSurvey measurementMetric yearDNR statusWalleye stocking
—Cedar LakeimpairedPolk1,120————Abundant (Walleye)Yes
—Church Pine LakePolk87————Present (Walleye)Yes
—Deer LakePolk786————Present (Walleye)—
—Half Moon LakePolk550————Present (Walleye)Yes
—Horseshoe LakePolk398————Present (Walleye)—
—Little Butternut LakePolk185————Present (Walleye)—
—North Twin LakePolk129————Present (Walleye)Yes
—Pike LakePolk148————Present (Walleye)Yes
—Pipe LakeimpairedPolk293————Common (Walleye)Yes
—Poplar LakePolk117————Present (Walleye)Yes
—Sand LakePolk216————Common (Walleye)—
—Wapogasset LakeimpairedPolk1,189————Common (Walleye)Yes

Methodology

How this list is built

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, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. 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

Polk County walleye fishing FAQ

Which walleye lakes receive a numeric county rank?

2 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 Polk County.

How many Polk County lakes have walleye?

20 Polk County lakes have a DNR walleye status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.

Best walleye lakes statewideBest musky in Polk CountyBest smallmouth bass in Polk CountyBest panfish in Polk CountyBest largemouth bass in Polk CountyBest northern pike in Polk CountyAll Polk County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. 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.