Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Freeborn County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 6 lakes in Freeborn 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.
Fountain Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 37 crappie per trap net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Bear Lake is second at A−, with 9.2 crappie per trap net in the 2009 survey, and 7% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Albert Lea Lake is third at A−, and its biggest crappie was 8 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fountain Lake | A | 522 | 37/net in trap nets | 15% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Bear Lake | A− | 1,033 | 9.2/net in trap nets | 7% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2009 |
| 3 | Albert Lea Lake | A− | 2,669 | 24.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 4 | Pickeral Lake | B+ | 588 | 2.8/net in trap nets | 33% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2013 |
Also ranked in Freeborn County: Northern pike · 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.