Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes near Grand Rapids
181 surveyed crappie lakes sit within 25 miles of Grand Rapids; 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.
Split Hand Lake leads at grade A, with 7.2 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Moose Lake is next at A, 3.5 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 23% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Siseebakwet 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 | Split Hand Lake | A | 1,374 | 7.2/net in trap nets | 13% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Moose Lake | A | 1,273 | 3.5/net in trap nets | 23% | 14" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Siseebakwet Lake | A− | 1,210 | 3.1/net in trap nets | 24% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Shallow Lake | A− | 539 | 4.1/net in trap nets | 23% | 13" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Swan Lake | A− | 2,456 | 1.9/net in trap nets | 20% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | King Lake | B+ | 311 | 10.1/net in trap nets | 4% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2009 |
| 7 | Balsam Lake | B+ | 716 | 2.8/net in trap nets | 22% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Crooked Lake | B+ | 465 | 3.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Bray Lake | B+ | 177 | 3.8/net in trap nets | 20% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2014 |
| 10 | Highland Lake | B+ | 105 | 5.2/net in trap nets | 28% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2018 |
Also ranked near Grand Rapids: 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.