Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Otter Tail County
138 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Otter Tail County; 77 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.
North Turtle Lake leads at grade A+, with 39.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Dead Lake is next at A, 2.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 25% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Fish Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Turtle Lake | A+ | 1,773 | 39.6/net in trap nets | 18% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Dead Lake | A | 7,546 | 2.6/net in trap nets | 25% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Fish Lake | A− | 489 | 48.7/net in trap nets | 3% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Dayton Hollow Reservoir | A− | 227 | 5.2/net in trap nets | 71% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2016 |
| 5 | Little McDonald Lake | A− | 1,316 | 3.6/net in trap nets | 25% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2020 |
| 6 | Rush Lake | A− | 5,276 | 1.3/net in trap nets | 54% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Clitherall Lake | A− | 2,540 | 2.5/net in trap nets | 30% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Buchanan Lake | A− | 964 | 5.1/net in trap nets | 17% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2014 |
| 9 | Bass Lake | A− | 311 | 13.3/net in trap nets | 7% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | East Leaf Lake | A− | 423 | 8.2/net in trap nets | 1% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Otter Tail County: 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.