Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Todd County
The DNR has surveyed crappie in 44 lakes in Todd County. Of those, 27 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.
Lake Osakis is first at A. The DNR caught 2.4 crappie per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 14 inches. Lady Lake is second at A−, with 7.4 crappie per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 45% of its crappie measured over 10 inches. Guernsey 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 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 2.4/net in trap nets | 34% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lady Lake | A− | 177 | 7.4/net in trap nets | 45% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Guernsey Lake | A− | 121 | 10.3/net in trap nets | 48% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B+ | 297 | 4.3/net in trap nets | 7% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Turtle Lake | B | 112 | 3.8/net in trap nets | 18% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Swan Lake | B | 947 | 1.4/net in trap nets | 10% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Mound Lake | B | 270 | — | 36% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Long Lake | B | 107 | — | 52% | 14" | 0.5 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Big Birch Lake | B | 2,107 | — | 35% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Little Sauk Lake | B− | 278 | — | 38% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Todd County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.