Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Cass County
169 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Cass County; 65 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 2.4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2021 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Gull Lake is next at A−, 1.5 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 24% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Widow 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− | 1,539 | 2.4/net in trap nets | 28% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Gull Lake | A− | 10,010 | 1.5/net in trap nets | 24% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Widow Lake | A− | 198 | 7.7/net in trap nets | 28% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Winnibigoshish Lake | A− | 56,471 | 0.3/net in trap nets | 44% | 13" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Roosevelt Lake | B+ | 1,511 | 2.9/net in trap nets | 19% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Spider Lake | B+ | 145 | 7/net in trap nets | 18% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | Woman Lake | B+ | 5,520 | 0.9/net in trap nets | 35% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Washburn Lake | B+ | 1,590 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 17% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Loon Lake | B+ | 232 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 11% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2017 |
| 10 | Bass Lake | B+ | 278 | 6.1/net in trap nets | 2% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Cass County: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.