Best White Crappie Lakes in Minnesota
Top white crappie lakes
389 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for white crappie; 52 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. West Rush leads at 79. Across all 52 qualifying lakes the median score is 46.
See all 389 white crappie lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Rush | Chisago | 1,594 | Excellent · 79 | 10.2per gill net | - | 1992 |
| 2 | Pokegama | Pine | 1,521 | Good · 72 | 6.5per gill net | 96% | 2022 |
| 3 | Elysian (Main Lake) | Waseca | 2,215 | Good · 69 | 0.92per trap net | 71% | 2021 |
| 4 | Emily | Pope | 2,316 | Good · 66 | 0.27per trap net | - | 2016 |
| 5 | Pepin | Goodhue | 12,299 | Good · 65 | 0.08per gill net | 100% | 2023 |
| 6 | Lac Qui Parle | Lac qui Parle | 5,741 | Good · 65 | 0.93per trap net | - | 2016 |
| 7 | Spring | Dakota | 1,494 | Good · 60 | 1.8per gill net | - | 1991 |
| 8 | East Rush | Chisago | 1,494 | Good · 60 | 6.1per gill net | - | 1992 |
| 9 | Byllesby | Dakota | 1,368 | Good · 60 | 2.0per gill net | 29% | 2019 |
| 10 | Traverse | Traverse | 10,849 | Good · 58 | 0.33per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 11 | Okamanpeedan | McLeod | 2,268 | Good · 58 | 9.9per trap net | 17% | 2023 |
| 12 | Bear | Freeborn | 1,033 | Good · 57 | 9.0per gill net | 10% | 2009 |
| 13 | Madison | Blue Earth | 1,447 | Good · 55 | 0.25per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 14 | Sarah | Murray | 1,209 | Good · 55 | 0.25per gill net | - | 1989 |
| 15 | Cedar | Mahnomen | 1,860 | Good · 54 | 25.8per trap net | - | 1983 |
- 1. West RushExcellent · 79
Chisago County · 1,594 acres
10.2 per gill net · surveyed 1992
- 2. PokegamaGood · 72
Pine County · 1,521 acres
6.5 per gill net · 96% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 3. Elysian (Main Lake)Good · 69
Waseca County · 2,215 acres
0.92 per trap net · 71% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
0.27 per trap net · surveyed 2016
0.08 per gill net · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 6. Lac Qui ParleGood · 65
Lac qui Parle County · 5,741 acres
0.93 per trap net · surveyed 2016
1.8 per gill net · surveyed 1991
- 8. East RushGood · 60
Chisago County · 1,494 acres
6.1 per gill net · surveyed 1992
- 9. ByllesbyGood · 60
Dakota County · 1,368 acres
2.0 per gill net · 29% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 10. TraverseGood · 58
Traverse County · 10,849 acres
0.33 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 11. OkamanpeedanGood · 58
McLeod County · 2,268 acres
9.9 per trap net · 17% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
9.0 per gill net · 10% keeper-size · surveyed 2009
- 13. MadisonGood · 55
Blue Earth County · 1,447 acres
0.25 per gill net · surveyed 2025
0.25 per gill net · surveyed 1989
25.8 per trap net · surveyed 1983
Underrated white 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 | 7.0per trap net | - | 1989 |
| 2 | Ella | Kandiyohi | 153 | Excellent · 97 | 18.7per trap net | 74% | 2021 |
| 3 | Bright | McLeod | 639 | Excellent · 96 | 31.8per trap net | 54% | 2025 |
| 4 | Goose | Goodhue | 220 | Excellent · 92 | 1.4per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 5 | Allie | Renville | 509 | Excellent · 87 | 42.5per gill net | - | 1980 |
| 6 | Elk | Sherburne | 357 | Excellent · 84 | 5.2per trap net | 80% | 1993 |
| 7 | Granite | Wright | 362 | Excellent · 83 | 11.5per trap net | - | 1980 |
| 8 | Cedar | McLeod | 707 | Excellent · 82 | 4.9per trap net | 75% | 2022 |
| 9 | Shields | Rice | 940 | Excellent · 80 | 41.8per trap net | - | 1985 |
| 10 | Typo | Isanti | 298 | Excellent · 78 | 3.3per trap net | 78% | 2016 |
7.0 per trap net · surveyed 1989
18.7 per trap net · 74% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
31.8 per trap net · 54% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
1.4 per trap net · surveyed 1990
42.5 per gill net · surveyed 1980
5.2 per trap net · 80% keeper-size · surveyed 1993
- 7. GraniteExcellent · 83
Wright County · 362 acres
11.5 per trap net · surveyed 1980
4.9 per trap net · 75% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 9. ShieldsExcellent · 80
Rice County · 940 acres
41.8 per trap net · surveyed 1985
3.3 per trap net · 78% keeper-size · surveyed 2016
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best white crappie lake in Minnesota?
West Rush in Chisago County is the top-rated white crappie lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 79 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 10.2 white crappie per gill net. 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 white 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 1983 to 2025, and 7 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 white crappie fishing?
Chisago County and Dakota County lead this list, holding 4 of the top 15 white crappie lakes in Minnesota between them.