Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Aitkin County
92 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Aitkin County; 43 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Portage Lake leads at grade A, with 16.3 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 14-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Sandy Lake is next at A−, 1.4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 51% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Rock Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 12-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portage Lake | A | 372 | 16.3/net in trap nets | 2% | 14" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Big Sandy Lake | A− | 6,125 | 1.4/net in trap nets | 51% | 13" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Rock Lake | A− | 342 | 6.8/net in trap nets | 17% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Blind Lake | B+ | 304 | 3.7/net in trap nets | 25% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2026 |
| 5 | Section Ten Lake | B+ | 436 | 4.2/net in trap nets | 15% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Fleming Lake | B+ | 319 | 12.2/net in trap nets | 1% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | Cedar Lake | B+ | 1,726 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 13% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Waukenabo Lake | B+ | 668 | 2.8/net in trap nets | 9% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Horseshoe Lake | B+ | 240 | 4.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Round Lake | B | 554 | 3/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Aitkin County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best crappie lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.