Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Clearwater County
28 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Clearwater County; the 8 ranked here 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.
Minerva Lake leads at grade A−, with 17.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2016 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lake is next at C+, 1.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2022 survey, 29% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Pickerel Lake rounds out the top three at C+, a 13-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minerva Lake | A− | 230 | 17.6/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2016 |
| 2 | Long Lake | C+ | 159 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 29% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Pickerel Lake | C+ | 143 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 53% | 13" | 0.6 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Pine Lake | C | 1,236 | 0.3/net in trap nets | 88% | 13" | 0.9 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Long Lost Lake | C | 539 | 0.6/net in trap nets | 34% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Elk Lake | C | 303 | 0.7/net in trap nets | 36% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Minnow Lake | C− | 110 | 1.1/net in trap nets | 80% | 11" | 0.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Itasca Lake | C− | 1,065 | 0.4/net in trap nets | 15% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Clearwater 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.