Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Hennepin County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 77 lakes in Hennepin County. Of those, 22 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Minnetonka Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 1.9 crappie per trap net in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Independence Lake is second at A−, with 5.9 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 8% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Long Lake is third at A−, and its biggest crappie was 10 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnetonka Lake | A− | 14,206 | 1.9/net in trap nets | 13% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Independence Lake | A− | 832 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Long Lake | A− | 285 | 16.9/net in trap nets | 3% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Bde Maka Ska Lake | B+ | 424 | 8.4/net in trap nets | 3% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Nokomis Lake | B+ | 201 | 21/net in trap nets | 2% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Sarah Lake | B+ | 557 | 18.2/net in trap nets | 0% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Rebecca Lake | B+ | 263 | 15.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Mitchell Lake | B+ | 114 | 13.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Whaletail Lake | B | 510 | 5.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Medicine Lake | B | 924 | 3/net in trap nets | 1% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Hennepin 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.