Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Lake County
52 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Lake County; 21 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.
Basswood Lake leads at grade A, with 1.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. South Farm Lake is next at A, 4.9 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 57% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Christianson 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 | Basswood Lake | A | 25,953 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 45% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | South Farm Lake | A | 564 | 4.9/net in trap nets | 57% | 14" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Christianson Lake | A− | 150 | 8.4/net in trap nets | 50% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Farm Lake | B+ | 1,292 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 43% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Thomas Lake | B | 142 | 9.6/net in trap nets | 0% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 6 | Newton Lake | B | 516 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 100% | 14" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Gegoka Lake | B | 145 | 3.7/net in trap nets | 6% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | T Lake | B− | 295 | — | 49% | 13" | 0.8 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Silver Island Lake | B− | 1,239 | — | 9% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Crooked Lake | B− | 10,360 | — | 56% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Lake 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.