Perch Lake (Lincoln County)

Lincoln County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 41006700

DNR records show 21 stocking entries at Perch Lake (Lincoln County) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (112,000 fish).

• Perch Lake (Lincoln County) has 21 DNR stocking records across 8 years (2016-2025): walleye (18), black crappie (3).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 777,871 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 16 ft, mean depth 6 ft; surface area 246 acres, 180 littoral acres, 3.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.6 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, sunfish, walleye, white crappie, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: September 2, 2025 (targeted survey).
• Lincoln County, nearest town Ivanhoe; DNR lake number (DOW) 41006700.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/5/1979 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Perch Lake is located approximately 4 miles northwest of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. It is a productive, 224-acre lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Perch Lake has a history of providing good walleye fishing. Numerous sizes of walleyes have been stocked over time. Many of the stockings have been evaluated with marking techniques and have revealed both stocking and natural reproduction have made important contributions to the walleye population. The recruitment of young walleyes is likely being negatively affected by predation and competition from other fish, especially large walleyes, northern pike and largemouth bass. In recent surveys, walleye gill net catches have been dominated by large fish (>20 inches), with few smaller walleyes present. Lower Mississippi Strain (Lake Sarah) walleye fry were first stocked in 2024 and then again in 2025 in an effort to develop a genetically "superior" self-sustaining population. This strain has been found to do well in southern Minnesota lakes. Fall night electrofishing was conducted to evaluate the survival of stocked walleye fry. No young-of-year or yearling walleyes were observed in 2025. Future stockings may include fingerling and yearling walleyes in an attempt to increase the population.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, September 2, 2025.

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