Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Itasca County
275 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Itasca County; 106 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.
Split Hand Lake leads at grade A, with 7.2 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Bowstring Lake is next at A, 4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 42% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Moose Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 14-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.