Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Hennepin County
77 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Hennepin County; 22 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Minnetonka Lake leads at grade A−, with 1.9 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2022 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Independence Lake is next at A−, 5.9 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 8% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Long Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.