Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes near Mankato
43 surveyed crappie lakes sit within 25 miles of Mankato; 28 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.
Lura Lake leads at grade A+, with 33.7 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey and a 14-inch fish the biggest measured. Duck Lake is next at A+, 26.2 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 10% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Crystal Lake rounds out the top three at A+, a 15-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lura Lake | A+ | 1,359 | 33.7/net in trap nets | 5% | 14" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Duck Lake | A+ | 290 | 26.2/net in trap nets | 10% | 17" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Crystal Lake | A+ | 379 | 15.7/net in trap nets | 12% | 15" | 0.9 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Elysian (Main Lake) | A | 2,215 | 5.8/net in trap nets | 11% | 15" | 0.6 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Washington Lake | A | 1,516 | 8.5/net in trap nets | 14% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | West Jefferson Lake | A | 439 | 56.8/net in trap nets | 6% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | East Jefferson Lake | A | 685 | 26.3/net in trap nets | 7% | 14" | 0.9 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Mills Lake | A | 237 | 39.6/net in trap nets | 5% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2007 |
| 9 | Bass Lake | A | 199 | 44.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 15" | 2.1 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Loon Lake | A | 809 | 9.7/net in trap nets | 29% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near Mankato: 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.