Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Grant County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 9 lakes in Grant County. The 7 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.
Pelican Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 2.3 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 14 inches. Barrett Lake is second at A−, with 4.8 crappie per trap net in the 2023 survey, and 41% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Lower Elk Lake is third at B+, and its biggest crappie was 12 inches.
| # | 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 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.