Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Sherburne County
22 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Sherburne County; the 9 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.
Elk Lake leads at grade A−, with 11.8 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2019 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Elk Lake is next at B, 13.1 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2017 survey, 0% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Birch Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Lake | A− | 357 | 11.8/net in trap nets | 7% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2019 |
| 2 | Elk Lake | B | 362 | 13.1/net in trap nets | 0% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 3 | Birch Lake | B | 160 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 2% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2019 |
| 4 | Clear Lake | B | 113 | 3.2/net in trap nets | 33% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2009 |
| 5 | Julia Lake | B− | 155 | — | 1% | 13" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Orono Lake | C+ | 301 | — | 59% | 11" | — | 2021 |
| 7 | Briggs Lake | C+ | 404 | — | 3% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Rush Lake | C+ | 161 | — | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Mitchell Lake | C | 170 | 1.1/net in trap nets | 15% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2019 |
Also ranked in Sherburne 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.