Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Grant County
9 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Grant County; the 7 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.
Pelican Lake leads at grade A, with 2.3 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 14-inch fish the biggest measured. Barrett Lake is next at A−, 4.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey, 41% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Lower Elk Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 12-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,761 | 2.3/net in trap nets | 14% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Barrett Lake | A− | 530 | 4.8/net in trap nets | 41% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Lower Elk Lake | B+ | 131 | 9.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Pomme de Terre Lake | B | 1,816 | 0.7/net in trap nets | 18% | 14" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Thompson Lake | B− | 154 | 2.7/net in trap nets | 8% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Lightning Lake | C+ | 541 | — | 8% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Cottonwood Lake | C | 255 | 0.7/net in trap nets | 100% | 14" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Grant 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.