Tanager

Hennepin County

Near Crystal Bay

DOW: 27014100

Black CrappieExcellent · 83BluegillGood · 74WalleyeGood · 68

A 53-acre lake near Crystal Bay in Hennepin County — best known for panfish and walleye. Last surveyed 1977.

Fish Species (11)

Black Crappie

Excellent · 83

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 45.0 per gill net · typical 1.9–18 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	45.00	-	0.28 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1977	9.50	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 74

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.22 lbs

Catch rate: 49.5 per trap net · typical 6.5–59.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	49.50	-	0.22 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 28, 1977	56.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Good · 68

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.75 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	2.00	-	3.75 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1977	0.50	-	4.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 62

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.50 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 2.5–7.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	2.00	-	3.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1977	1.50	-	3.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Crappie

Good · 56

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net · typical 0.4–4.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	1.50	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets

Muskellunge

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

7.10 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.1–0.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	1.00	-	7.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (5)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Black Bullhead

Excellent · 76

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.59 lbs

Catch rate: 24.5 per trap net · typical 1.3–26 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	38.00	-	0.57 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1977	24.50	-	0.59 lbs	Standard trap nets

Common Carp

Good · 67

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

4.25 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	2.00	-	4.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1977	7.50	-	4.37 lbs	Standard trap nets

Golden Shiner

Good · 63

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.7–3.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	2.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.33 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	1.50	-	2.33 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 27

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.8–5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 28, 1977	0.50	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best black crappie lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Muskellunge

Season: Jun 6, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026

1, minimum size 54"

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

July 28, 1977See report for all of Lower Lake and Appendix XVII

See report for all of Lower Lake and Appendix XVII

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Tanager?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye, Northern Pike, and White Crappie in Tanager. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Tanager?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Tanager. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Tanager?

Tanager has a maximum depth of 23 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Tanager last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Tanager is from 1977. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Tanager have any invasive species?

Yes — Tanager has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

Are there special fishing regulations on Tanager?

No — Tanager has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.