Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Carver County
32 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Carver County; 15 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.
Swede Lake leads at grade A, with 78.4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2021 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Waconia Lake is next at A−, 3.5 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 7% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Lotus Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 15-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swede Lake | A | 433 | 78.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 12" | — | 2021 |
| 2 | Waconia Lake | A− | 3,080 | 3.5/net in trap nets | 7% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lotus Lake | A− | 245 | 12.6/net in trap nets | 1% | 15" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Eagle Lake | B+ | 183 | 18.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Hydes Lake | B+ | 222 | 7.4/net in trap nets | 3% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 6 | Oak Lake | B+ | 333 | 7.9/net in trap nets | 5% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2011 |
| 7 | Auburn Lake | B | 291 | 3.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Piersons Lake | B | 267 | 3.3/net in trap nets | 6% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Bavaria Lake | B | 167 | 6.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Miller Lake | B− | 143 | 5.2/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2006 |
Also ranked in Carver County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.