Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Pine County
47 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Pine County; 13 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.
Cross Lake leads at grade A, with 6.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. Pokegama Lake is next at A, 6.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 51% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Sturgeon 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 | Cross Lake | A | 925 | 6.6/net in trap nets | 38% | 18" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Pokegama Lake | A | 1,522 | 6.8/net in trap nets | 51% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Sturgeon Lake | A− | 1,706 | 3.1/net in trap nets | 13% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Oak Lake | A− | 459 | 8.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Sand Lake | B+ | 527 | 2.6/net in trap nets | 22% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Fox Lake | B+ | 200 | 8.5/net in trap nets | 5% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2014 |
| 7 | Island Lake | B+ | 527 | 2.2/net in trap nets | 35% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Bass Lake | B | 229 | 2.6/net in trap nets | 19% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Fish Lake | B | 185 | 4.8/net in trap nets | 4% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2010 |
| 10 | Big Pine Lake | B | 399 | 2.2/net in trap nets | 16% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Pine County: 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.