Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes near Bemidji
107 surveyed crappie lakes sit within 25 miles of Bemidji; 47 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.
Schoolcraft Lake leads at grade A−, with 10.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2022 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Minerva Lake is next at A−, 17.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2016 survey, 6% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Big Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 12-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schoolcraft Lake | A− | 170 | 10.6/net in trap nets | 11% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Minerva Lake | A− | 230 | 17.6/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2016 |
| 3 | Big Lake | A− | 3,598 | 1.4/net in trap nets | 40% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Rabideau Lake | B+ | 680 | 3.6/net in trap nets | 19% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | North Twin Lake | B+ | 326 | 5.4/net in trap nets | 51% | 11" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Pimushe Lake | B+ | 1,230 | 1.6/net in trap nets | 40% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Hennepin Lake | B+ | 418 | 4.2/net in trap nets | 5% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2013 |
| 8 | Black Lake | B+ | 271 | 2.6/net in trap nets | 60% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2017 |
| 9 | Little Turtle Lake | B | 469 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 91% | 15" | 1.1 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Cass Lake | B | 15,958 | 0.4/net in trap nets | 13% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Bemidji: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.