Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Jackson County
10 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Jackson County; the 7 ranked here 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.
Round Lake leads at grade A+, with 27.2 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 14-inch fish the biggest measured. Little Spirit Lake is next at A−, 7.1 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 18% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Loon Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 13-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round Lake | A+ | 930 | 27.2/net in trap nets | 8% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Little Spirit Lake | A− | 624 | 7.1/net in trap nets | 18% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Loon Lake | A− | 708 | 4.2/net in trap nets | 31% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Pearl Lake | A− | 117 | 13.7/net in trap nets | 22% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Rush Lake | B+ | 243 | 4.7/net in trap nets | 18% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2007 |
| 6 | Clear Lake | C+ | 434 | 0.8/net in trap nets | 100% | 13" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Heron (South Heron) Lake | C− | 2,641 | 0.3/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Jackson County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.