Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Carver County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 32 lakes in Carver County. Of those, 15 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Swede Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 78.4 crappie per trap net in the 2021 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Waconia Lake is second at A−, with 3.5 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 7% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Lotus Lake is third at A−, and its biggest crappie was 15 inches.
| # | 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.