Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Pine County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 47 lakes in Pine County. Of those, 13 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.
Cross Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 6.6 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 18 inches. Pokegama Lake is second at A, with 6.8 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 51% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Sturgeon 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 | 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 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.