White crappie across Minnesota
Finding and keeping white crappie under Minnesota rules.
- 10 combined totallimit
- 3 lb 15 ozrecord
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Where white crappie fit in Minnesota
The DNR files White crappie under the sunfish family. The inland waters (statewide) rule allows 10 combined total; season Continuous.
Lake Constance gave up the state record of 3 lb 15 oz in 2002. Survey crews found it in 133 lakes, 170 of which have pages. At 120 per gill net, Clear Lake, Martin County leads the lakes on this site.
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“Minnesota is home to two types of crappie: the black crappie and the white crappie. Black crappies have irregular dark speckles on their sides. White crappies the dark markings consist of regularly arranged vertical bars. When in doubt count the number of spines on the dorsal fin that stretches across the top of the fish. Black crappies have seven or eight spines while white crappies have five or six.”
- Black crappies have irregular dark speckles on their sides.identification
- White crappies the dark markings consist of regularly arranged vertical bars.identification
- crappiealso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
The white crappie limit
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 10 combined total | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Minnesota record white crappie
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 3 lb 15 oz | Lake Constance | Wright | 2002 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Where the white crappie surveys ran highest
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake, Martin County | 120 | 0.5-8.4 | 0.13 | 2025 |
| Frontenac Lake, Goodhue County | 78 | 0.08 | 1981 | |
| Fox Lake, Martin County | 67.8 | 0.7-10.4 | 0.05 | 2025 |
| Duck Lake, Blue Earth County | 34 | 0.5-13.0 | 0.11 | 2025 |
| Dans Lake | 14.5 | 0.5-4.8 | 0.18 | 1990 |
| Caron Lake | 11.25 | 0.5-8.4 | 0.29 | 2003 |
| Willie Lake | 9.67 | 0.5-4.8 | 0.1 | 2016 |
| Willmert (Main Bay) | 9.5 | 0.5-8.4 | 0.19 | 2018 |
| Bear Lake, Freeborn County | 9 | 0.5-8.4 | 0.13 | 2009 |
| Silver Crk Reservoir SR-2 | 9 | 0.18 | 2008 | |
| Ballantyne Lake | 7.83 | 0.5-13.0 | 0.15 | 2025 |
| Cascade Ponds Lake | 7.33 | 0.23 | 2022 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Minnesota waters to try for white crappie
Lakes with white crappie
- Lake Minnetonka14,206 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Traverse Lake10,849 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Lac qui Parle5,741 acres
- Marsh, Big Stone County4,462 acres
- Pelican Lake, Grant County3,761 acres
- Shetek Lake3,462 acres
- Big Kandiyohi Lake2,730 acres
- Albert Lea Lake2,669 acres
- Mud Lake, Traverse County2,449 acres
- Emily Lake, Pope County2,316 acres
- Forest Lake, Washington County2,271 acres
- Okamanpeedan Lake2,268 acres
- Elysian (Main Lake)2,215 acres
- Pomme De Terre Lake1,816 acres
- Lake Wakanda1,760 acres
- Ocheda Lake1,691 acres
- Buffalo Lake, Wright County1,552 acres
- Hendricks Lake1,522 acres
- Pokegama Lake, Pine County1,521 acres
- Lake Washington1,516 acres
- Spring Lake, Dakota County1,494 acres
- Madison Lake1,447 acres
Streams with white crappie
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Fish grouped with white crappie
- Largemouth basssunfish family
- Smallmouth basssunfish family
- Rock basssunfish family
- Black crappiesunfish family
- Bluegillsunfish family
- Pumpkinseedsunfish family
- Green sunfishsunfish family
- Hybrid sunfishsunfish family
- Warmouthsunfish family
Photos of places near White crappie
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Minnesota white crappie, asked by anglers
What is the limit on white crappie?
10 combined total (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
What is the Minnesota record white crappie?
3 lb 15 oz from Lake Constance (2002).
Which waters produce white crappie?
Clear Lake, Martin County leads the DNR gill net catch at 120 per net; 171 waters on this site list it.
Are white crappie on the stocking pages?
1 row on the DNR area stocking pages, such as Clear.
What scientific name does the DNR use for white crappie?
Black crappies have irregular dark speckles on their sides.
Is white crappie season open right now in Minnesota?
Continuous
Is a stamp needed for white crappie?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Do Minnesota guides take trips for white crappie?
See the guides page.