Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Cook County
17 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Cook 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.
Finger Lake leads at grade B, with 1.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Four Mile Lake is next at B−, 100% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Saganaga Lake rounds out the top three at C+, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finger Lake | B | 204 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 25% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Four Mile Lake | B− | 593 | — | 100% | 12" | 1.2 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Saganaga Lake | C+ | 18,767 | — | 50% | 11" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Barker Lake | C+ | 149 | — | 0% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2018 |
| 5 | East Bearskin Lake | C+ | 593 | — | 0% | 6" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Sea Gull Lake | C | 3,958 | 0.2/net in trap nets | 14% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Gull Lake | C | 168 | 0.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2017 |
| 8 | Caribou Lake | C− | 721 | 0.4/net in trap nets | 50% | 12" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Cook County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.