Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Jackson County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 10 lakes in Jackson County. The 7 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Round Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 27.2 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 14 inches. Little Spirit Lake is second at A−, with 7.1 crappie per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 18% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Loon Lake is third at A−, and its biggest crappie was 13 inches.
| # | 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 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.