Best Black Crappie Lakes in Minnesota
Top black crappie lakes
2,526 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for black crappie; 259 of them are at least 1,000 acres. The top 15 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. Rainy leads at 99. Across all 259 qualifying lakes the median score is 65.
See all 2,526 black crappie lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rainy | St. Louis | 210,200 | Excellent · 99 | 8.1per trap net | 84% | 2025 |
| 2 | Lac Qui Parle | Lac qui Parle | 5,741 | Excellent · 98 | 47.4per trap net | 76% | 2016 |
| 3 | Pokegama | Pine | 1,521 | Excellent · 97 | 8.1per gill net | 69% | 2022 |
| 4 | Diamond | Kandiyohi | 1,610 | Excellent · 95 | 23.3per gill net | 51% | 2023 |
| 5 | North Long | Crow Wing | 6,190 | Excellent · 94 | 2.8per gill net | 54% | 2024 |
| 6 | Trout | Itasca | 1,862 | Excellent · 94 | 1.9per gill net | 100% | 2025 |
| 7 | Bowstring | Itasca | 9,528 | Excellent · 93 | 4.0per trap net | 52% | 2021 |
| 8 | Ida | Douglas | 4,445 | Excellent · 93 | 3.8per gill net | 46% | 2023 |
| 9 | Green | Kandiyohi | 5,569 | Excellent · 92 | 2.7per trap net | 76% | 2025 |
| 10 | Strawberry | Becker | 1,498 | Excellent · 92 | 6.0per gill net | 50% | 2022 |
| 11 | Fish Lake Flowage | St. Louis | 3,259 | Excellent · 90 | 10.1per gill net | 35% | 2025 |
| 12 | Bald Eagle | Lake | 1,243 | Excellent · 89 | 1.7per gill net | 100% | 2019 |
| 13 | Jennie | Meeker | 1,069 | Excellent · 89 | 16.6per trap net | 65% | 2018 |
| 14 | East Loon | Otter Tail | 1,044 | Excellent · 89 | 1.7per gill net | 54% | 2025 |
| 15 | Cut Foot Sioux | Itasca | 2,771 | Excellent · 88 | 2.0per trap net | 77% | 2024 |
8.1 per trap net · 84% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 2. Lac Qui ParleExcellent · 98
Lac qui Parle County · 5,741 acres
47.4 per trap net · 76% keeper-size · surveyed 2016
- 3. PokegamaExcellent · 97
Pine County · 1,521 acres
8.1 per gill net · 69% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 4. DiamondExcellent · 95
Kandiyohi County · 1,610 acres
23.3 per gill net · 51% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 5. North LongExcellent · 94
Crow Wing County · 6,190 acres
2.8 per gill net · 54% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
1.9 per gill net · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 7. BowstringExcellent · 93
Itasca County · 9,528 acres
4.0 per trap net · 52% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
3.8 per gill net · 46% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
2.7 per trap net · 76% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 10. StrawberryExcellent · 92
Becker County · 1,498 acres
6.0 per gill net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 11. Fish Lake FlowageExcellent · 90
St. Louis County · 3,259 acres
10.1 per gill net · 35% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 12. Bald EagleExcellent · 89
Lake County · 1,243 acres
1.7 per gill net · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 13. JennieExcellent · 89
Meeker County · 1,069 acres
16.6 per trap net · 65% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 14. East LoonExcellent · 89
Otter Tail County · 1,044 acres
1.7 per gill net · 54% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 15. Cut Foot SiouxExcellent · 88
Itasca County · 2,771 acres
2.0 per trap net · 77% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
Underrated black crappie lakes under 1,000 acres
Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.
| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clear | Goodhue | 226 | Excellent · 100 | 11.4per trap net | - | 1989 |
| 2 | Little | Chisago | 168 | Excellent · 100 | 92.5per gill net | 90% | 2009 |
| 3 | McKay | Lyon | 167 | Excellent · 100 | 28.0per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 4 | Crow Wing | Crow Wing | 379 | Excellent · 99 | 23.0per gill net | 83% | 2022 |
| 5 | Lower Lawrence | Itasca | 152 | Excellent · 98 | 10.3per gill net | - | 1974 |
| 6 | Winter | Becker | 117 | Excellent · 98 | 9.0per gill net | 100% | 2021 |
| 7 | Fish | Otter Tail | 489 | Excellent · 97 | 48.7per trap net | 67% | 2012 |
| 8 | Round | Meeker | 266 | Excellent · 97 | 79.3per trap net | 67% | 1984 |
| 9 | Markham | St. Louis | 229 | Excellent · 97 | 9.0per gill net | - | 1974 |
| 10 | Moon | Douglas | 139 | Excellent · 97 | 25.2per trap net | 61% | 2023 |
11.4 per trap net · surveyed 1989
92.5 per gill net · 90% keeper-size · surveyed 2009
28.0 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 4. Crow WingExcellent · 99
Crow Wing County · 379 acres
23.0 per gill net · 83% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 5. Lower LawrenceExcellent · 98
Itasca County · 152 acres
10.3 per gill net · surveyed 1974
9.0 per gill net · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 7. FishExcellent · 97
Otter Tail County · 489 acres
48.7 per trap net · 67% keeper-size · surveyed 2012
79.3 per trap net · 67% keeper-size · surveyed 1984
- 9. MarkhamExcellent · 97
St. Louis County · 229 acres
9.0 per gill net · surveyed 1974
25.2 per trap net · 61% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best black crappie lake in Minnesota?
Rainy in St. Louis County is the top-rated black crappie lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 99 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 8.1 black crappie per trap net, with 84% of catchable fish at keeper size. Among smaller waters, Clear in Goodhue County (226 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 100.
How are these rankings calculated?
Each lake's 0-100 FishGrade score blends two signals from Minnesota DNR surveys: abundance, which compares the lake's catch rate to the DNR normal range for similar lakes using the survey gear that best samples black crappie, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, the main rankings cover named lakes of at least 1,000 acres, and standout smaller lakes of 100+ acres are listed separately.
How current is this data?
Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: survey dates for the ranked lakes run from 2016 to 2025, and 13 of 15 were surveyed within the last 7 years. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.
Which counties have the best black crappie fishing?
Itasca County, Kandiyohi County, and St. Louis County lead this list, holding 7 of the top 15 black crappie lakes in Minnesota between them.