Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in McLeod County
11 surveyed crappie lakes sit in McLeod County; the 10 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.
Swan Lake leads at grade A, with 18.5 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Silver Lake is next at A−, 6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 7% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Cedar Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swan Lake | A | 352 | 18.5/net in trap nets | 23% | 13" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Silver Lake | A− | 453 | 6/net in trap nets | 7% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Cedar Lake | A− | 1,860 | 7.6/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2018 |
| 4 | Hook Lake | B+ | 330 | 12.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 5 | Winsted Lake | B+ | 382 | 15.9/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | — | 2021 |
| 6 | Todd Lake | B | 214 | 6.7/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Marion Lake | B | 520 | — | 8% | 14" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Stahl's Lake | B | 141 | 3/net in trap nets | 6% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2018 |
| 9 | Round Grove Lake | C+ | 296 | — | 8% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Otter Lake | C+ | 642 | — | 0% | 4" | — | 2025 |
Also ranked in McLeod County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.