Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Polk County
13 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Polk County; the 8 ranked here 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.
Maple Lake leads at grade A−, with 4.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Union Lake is next at A−, 3.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2022 survey, 13% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Hill River Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.