Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Dakota County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 20 lakes in Dakota County. The 4 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Byllesby Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 1.8 crappie per trap net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 11 inches. Crystal Lake is second at B−, with 2.1 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 7% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Marion Lake is third at C+, and its biggest crappie was 8 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Byllesby Lake | B+ | 1,368 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 13% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Crystal Lake | B− | 293 | 2.1/net in trap nets | 7% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Marion Lake | C+ | 530 | — | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 4 | Orchard Lake | C− | 238 | 1.1/net in trap nets | 12% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
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.