Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Pope County
18 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Pope County; 15 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.
Lake Minnewaska leads at grade A, with 2.2 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Emily is next at A, 2.4 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 59% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Gilchrist Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 14-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Minnewaska | A | 8,050 | 2.2/net in trap nets | 48% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lake Emily | A | 2,316 | 2.4/net in trap nets | 59% | 16" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Gilchrist Lake | A− | 336 | 6/net in trap nets | 41% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Leven Lake | A− | 282 | 5.4/net in trap nets | 43% | 13" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Amelia Lake | A− | 934 | 2.1/net in trap nets | 70% | 14" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Westport Lake | A− | 203 | 10.4/net in trap nets | 3% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Villard Lake | B+ | 544 | 1.8/net in trap nets | 81% | 13" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Ann Lake | B | 370 | — | 1% | 14" | — | 2023 |
| 9 | Pelican Lake | B | 518 | 1.6/net in trap nets | 32% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Scandinavian Lake | B− | 417 | 1.4/net in trap nets | 12% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Pope 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.