Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Polk County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 13 lakes in Polk County. The 8 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Maple Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 4.6 crappie per trap net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 11 inches. Union Lake is second at A−, with 3.6 crappie per trap net in the 2022 survey, and 13% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Hill River Lake is third at B+, and its biggest crappie was 11 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Lake | A− | 1,641 | 4.6/net in trap nets | 30% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Union Lake | A− | 888 | 3.6/net in trap nets | 13% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Hill River Lake | B+ | 102 | 12.4/net in trap nets | 4% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Sarah Lake | B | 366 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 55% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2021 |
| 5 | Spring Lake | B− | 134 | 2.3/net in trap nets | 17% | 13" | 0.4 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Cross Lake | B− | 320 | 1.6/net in trap nets | 53% | 12" | 0.7 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Sand Hill Lake | C+ | 479 | — | 0% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2018 |
| 8 | Crystal Lake | C | 118 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 69% | 13" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Polk 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.