Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Washington County
36 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Washington County; the 10 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.
DeMontreville Lake leads at grade B+, with 5.1 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2019 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Forest Lake is next at B−, 0.9 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 4% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Big Marine Lake rounds out the top three at C+, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeMontreville Lake | B+ | 157 | 5.1/net in trap nets | 23% | 12" | 1 lb | 2019 |
| 2 | Forest Lake | B− | 2,271 | 0.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Marine Lake | C+ | 1,799 | — | 12% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Clear Lake | C+ | 429 | 2/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | White Bear Lake | C+ | 2,428 | — | 15% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Bone Lake | C+ | 221 | — | 7% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Square Lake | C+ | 203 | 2.3/net in trap nets | 4% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2016 |
| 8 | Elmo Lake | C− | 257 | 0.4/net in trap nets | 54% | 14" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Jane Lake | C− | 158 | 0.9/net in trap nets | 3% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2019 |
| 10 | Battle Creek Lake | C− | 106 | 1.2/net in trap nets | 17% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Washington 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.