Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes near Bemidji
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 107 lakes within 25 miles of Bemidji. Of those, 47 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Schoolcraft Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 10.6 crappie per trap net in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 12 inches. Minerva Lake is second at A−, with 17.6 crappie per trap net in the 2016 survey, and 6% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Big Lake is third at A−, and its biggest crappie was 12 inches.
| # | 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 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.