Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes near Alexandria
97 surveyed crappie lakes sit within 25 miles of Alexandria; 68 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.
Moon Lake leads at grade A, with 20.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey and a 14-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Osakis is next at A, 2.4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 34% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Red Rock 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 | Moon Lake | A | 139 | 20.6/net in trap nets | 50% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 2.4/net in trap nets | 34% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Red Rock Lake | A | 904 | 6.3/net in trap nets | 39% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lake Minnewaska | A | 8,050 | 2.2/net in trap nets | 48% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lake Winona | A | 213 | 118.5/net in trap nets | 3% | 11" | — | 2021 |
| 6 | Lake Moses | A | 824 | 5.7/net in trap nets | 32% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,761 | 2.3/net in trap nets | 14% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Stowe Lake | A | 377 | 6.6/net in trap nets | 78% | 13" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Fish Lake | A− | 489 | 48.7/net in trap nets | 3% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Whiskey Lake | A− | 160 | 9.3/net in trap nets | 58% | 13" | 0.7 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked near Alexandria: 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.