Walleye Fishing Guide

Game FishDocumented in 1,982 graded lakes across 3 states

The Upper Midwest’s marquee game fish, prized for its firm white fillets and low-light bite. Walleye are schooling predators with light-sensitive eyes that give them an edge in stained or choppy water.

Walleye is a primary the 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces LakeQuality covers sport-fishing target. 1,982 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. With 1,237 lakes in Minnesota, 702 in Wisconsin, and 43 in Michigan carrying a documented record, Walleye is one of the more accessible targets in the dataset.

Game-fish presence on a the 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces LakeQuality covers lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On our A–F scale, the cleanest Walleye lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.

Where they live

Rock and gravel bars, points, and mid-lake structure in cool, mid-depth water; they slide shallow at dawn, dusk, and after dark to feed.

Water quality they need

Walleye tolerate more color and nutrients than trout — they actually feed better in slightly stained, wind-riled water. You’ll find them across a wide grade range, but the healthiest fisheries sit in clear-to-moderate mesotrophic lakes with good oxygen at depth.

When to catch them

Best in spring right after ice-out near spawning rock, and again in fall as water cools; low-light and night bites are strongest all summer.

Walleye Seasonal Forecast & Techniques

Part of the LakeQuality Fishing Forecast. Spawn trigger: Spawns just after ice-out at 42–50°F over rock, gravel, and windswept shoreline. Forage: Yellow perch, shiners, and other soft-rayed baitfish. For a forecast tuned to a specific lake's measured clarity and depth, open that lake's forecast.

Season	Where they hold	Structure & cover	Technique
Spring	shallow 3–10 ft	rock/gravel bars, warming shoreline, river mouths	jig-and-minnow, slow-rolled swimbaits
Summer	mid-depth 12–25 ft	main-lake points, mid-lake humps, weed edges	live-bait rigs, bottom bouncers/crawler harnesses
Fall	variable 8–30 ft	steep breaks and points as they feed up	jigging bigger minnows, trolling deep cranks
Winter / Ice	8–25 ft	first breaks off structure, dusk feeding windows	jigging spoons and rattle baits, deadstick minnows

Clear-water tactics:finesse jig-and-minnowlong leaders / lighter linefish dawn, dusk & after darkStained-water tactics:bladed/rattling baits for vibrationbrighter jigs & crankbaitswork the windblown "walleye chop"

1,982

Total Lakes

Avg. Grade

43 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Walleye Lakes

466

24%

354

18%

256

13%

181

122

Best Walleye Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with walleye ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Lobster Lake	Douglas	MN	A	65 ft	18
2	East Fox Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	65 ft	15
3	Deep Portage Lake	Cass	MN	A	105 ft	9
4	Clearwater Lake	Wright	MN	A	73 ft	17
5	Clearwater Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	54 ft	16
6	Clearwater Lake	Clearwater	MN	A	65 ft	14
7	Lower Hay Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	100 ft	21
8	Latoka Lake	Douglas	MN	A	108 ft	16
9	Little Birch Lake	Todd	MN	A	89 ft	20
10	North Long Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	97 ft	18
11	Bad Medicine Lake	Becker	MN	A	84 ft	13
12	Mud Lake	Becker	MN	A	34 ft	16
13	Big Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	35 ft	17
14	Big Lake	Sherburne	MN	A	48 ft	14
15	Big Lake	St. Louis	MN	A	22 ft	8
16	Big Sugar Bush Lake	Becker	MN	A	42 ft	13
17	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	55 ft	20
18	Pelican Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	104 ft	17
19	Birch Lake	Cass	MN	A	45 ft	14
20	Round Lake	Aitkin	MN	A	125 ft	18
21	Round Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	51 ft	20
22	Round Lake	Cook	MN	A	45 ft	5
23	Round Lake	Becker	MN	A	69 ft	18
24	Ada Lake	Cass	MN	A	60 ft	16
25	Pike Lake	Cook	MN	A	45 ft	7
26	Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	138 ft	23
27	Whitefish Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	30 ft	12
28	Horseshoe Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	56 ft	11
29	Farm Lake	Lake	MN	A	56 ft	12
30	Washburn Lake	Cass	MN	A	111 ft	21
31	Long Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	A	46 ft	15
32	Long Lake	Clearwater	MN	A	80 ft	15
33	Long Lake	Cass	MN	A	115 ft	14
34	Long Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	87 ft	11
35	Long Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	128 ft	16
36	Long Lake	Becker	MN	A	61 ft	16
37	Long Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	135 ft	14
38	Long Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	73 ft	17
39	Long Lake	Itasca	MN	A	85 ft	12
40	Dead Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	34 ft	9
41	Dead Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	65 ft	18
42	Unnamed Lake	Nicollet	MN	A	35 ft	6
43	Maple Lake	Douglas	MN	A	78 ft	17
44	Maple Lake	Itasca	MN	A	39 ft	13
45	West Twin Lake	Cook	MN	A	37 ft	2
46	Shallow Lake	Itasca	MN	A	85 ft	12
47	Shallow Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	10 ft	13
48	Trout Lake	Itasca	MN	A	157 ft	9
49	Detroit Lake	Becker	MN	A	89 ft	19
50	South Sturgeon Lake	St. Louis	MN	A	43 ft	10

Showing top 50 of 1,982 lakes with walleye.

Frequently Asked Questions

What water quality do walleye need?

How many lakes have walleye?

Walleye are found in 1,982 graded lakes: 1,237 in Minnesota, 702 in Wisconsin, 43 in Michigan. The average water quality grade of lakes with walleye is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for walleye?

The best walleye lakes by water quality are Lobster Lake, East Fox Lake, Deep Portage Lake, Clearwater Lake, Clearwater Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where walleye have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with walleye?

Walleye are most commonly found alongside walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill, black crappie. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Walleye Lakes

Northern Pike Lakes

Found together in 1,193 lakes · 2,487 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 1,184 lakes · 1,631 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 1,153 lakes · 1,601 total

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 1,126 lakes · 1,428 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 1,059 lakes · 2,593 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 992 lakes · 1,370 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.