Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Itasca County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 275 lakes in Itasca County. Of those, 106 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.
Split Hand Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 7.2 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 13 inches. Bowstring Lake is second at A, with 4 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 42% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Moose Lake is third at A, and its biggest crappie was 14 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Split Hand Lake | A | 1,374 | 7.2/net in trap nets | 13% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Bowstring Lake | A | 9,528 | 4/net in trap nets | 42% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Moose Lake | A | 1,273 | 3.5/net in trap nets | 23% | 14" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Siseebakwet Lake | A− | 1,210 | 3.1/net in trap nets | 24% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Shallow Lake | A− | 539 | 4.1/net in trap nets | 23% | 13" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Cut Foot Sioux Lake | A− | 2,771 | 1.3/net in trap nets | 64% | 13" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Bear Lake | A− | 344 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 22% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Swan Lake | A− | 2,456 | 1.9/net in trap nets | 20% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Round Lake | B+ | 2,860 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 58% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | King Lake | B+ | 311 | 10.1/net in trap nets | 4% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2009 |
Also ranked in Itasca County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.