Crystal
A 379-acre lake near Lake Crystal in Blue Earth County — best known for panfish and walleye. Last surveyed 2022.
Fish Species (17)
Green Sunfish
Above-normal numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1982
Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 7.0 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2001 | 1.00 | 2.0" | 0.01 lbs |
| Aug 11, 1982 | 7.00 | - | 0.27 lbs |
Walleye
Stocked 2024Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 11.0 per gill net · typical 2.3–18.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 11.00 | 17.5" | 2.09 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 7.78 | 17.5" | 2.22 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 18.33 | 10.0" | 0.34 lbs |
Stocking Details
| Year | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | fry | 284,250 | 2.7 |
| 2023 | fry | 284,250 | 2.5 |
| 2022 | fry | 284,250 | 2.4 |
| 2021 | fry | 284,250 | 2.5 |
| 2019 | fry | 284,250 | 2.3 |
| 2018 | fry | 284,250 | 2.7 |
| 2016 | fry | 596,090 | 5.5 |
Northern Pike
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 1.1–8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 1.75 | 23.8" | 3.47 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 3.33 | 23.8" | 3.26 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 0.67 | 21.7" | 1.27 lbs |
Channel Catfish
Typical numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2011
Last surveyed 2011 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2011 | 1.50 | 18.6" | 2.77 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2011 | 1.50 | 18.6" | 3.48 lbs |
| Aug 7, 2006 | 4.00 | 18.0" | 2.68 lbs |
Pumpkinseed
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net · typical 0.3–4.9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 1991 | 0.17 | - | 0.60 lbs |
| Aug 10, 1987 | 0.33 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| Aug 11, 1982 | 2.80 | - | 0.28 lbs |
Black Crappie
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 15.7 per trap net · typical 1.2–20.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 15.67 | 7.9" | 0.38 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 14.75 | 7.9" | 0.29 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 40.75 | 8.2" | 0.27 lbs |
Bluegill
Below-normal numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 1.2–20 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 1.00 | 7.2" | 0.36 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 2.62 | 5.6" | 0.25 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2011 | 0.88 | 7.6" | 0.27 lbs |
White Crappie
Typical numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2011
Last surveyed 2011 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 4.8 per gill net · typical 0.5–8.4 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 0.22 | 11.0" | 0.85 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 1.62 | 9.7" | 0.58 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2011 | 1.25 | 7.0" | 0.15 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Typical numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 6.3 per gill net · typical 2.7–25 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 0.33 | 7.1" | 0.22 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 6.25 | 7.1" | 0.19 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 7.33 | 8.2" | 0.40 lbs |
Hybrid Sunfish
Below-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.12 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2016 | 0.12 | 9.0" | 0.87 lbs |
| Aug 16, 2001 | 0.11 | 8.0" | 0.55 lbs |
| Jun 26, 1991 | 0.33 | - | 0.25 lbs |
Other species in this lake (7)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Yellow Bullhead
Above-normal numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 3.8 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 0.25 | 9.1" | 0.77 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 3.78 | 9.1" | 0.52 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 0.67 | 8.5" | 0.37 lbs |
Black Bullhead
Above-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 399.2 per trap net · typical 11.5–132.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 399.22 | 6.3" | 0.01 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 186.00 | 6.3" | 0.12 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 69.38 | 8.4" | 0.06 lbs |
Common Carp
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 1–13.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 0.22 | 23.5" | 6.78 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 1.33 | 21.6" | 4.23 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 4.25 | 21.6" | 5.30 lbs |
White Sucker
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2022
Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net · typical 0.8–6.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2022 | 0.75 | 17.2" | 2.27 lbs |
| Aug 15, 2022 | 3.33 | 17.2" | 2.41 lbs |
| Aug 8, 2016 | 0.12 | 17.0" | 1.70 lbs |
Golden Shiner
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2016 | 0.33 | 7.0" | 0.14 lbs |
| Aug 7, 2006 | 0.33 | 4.3" | 0.05 lbs |
| Aug 16, 2001 | 0.33 | - | - |
Fathead Minnow
Seining survey · surveyed Aug 2001
Last surveyed 2001 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 51.3 · Seining survey
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2001 | 51.33 | 0.9" | - |
Johnny Darter
Seining survey · surveyed Aug 2001
Last surveyed 2001 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 7.3 · Seining survey
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2001 | 7.33 | 1.3" | - |
| Aug 12, 1996 | 3.50 | - | - |
Biologist Notes
April 19, 2023Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie a…
Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie and a single White Sucker were also sampled. We have reports of anglers catching Black Crappie from shore. Dead Common Carp were observed on the shoreline.
April 19, 2023Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie a…
Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie and a single White Sucker were also sampled. We have reports of anglers catching Black Crappie from shore. Dead Common Carp were observed on the shoreline.
April 19, 2023Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie a…
Two trap nets were set at Crystal Lake on 19 April 2023 to assess winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were abundant. A single Black Crappie and a single White Sucker were also sampled. We have reports of anglers catching Black Crappie from shore. Dead Common Carp were observed on the shoreline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Crystal?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Green Sunfish, Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, and Pumpkinseed in Crystal. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Crystal?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Crystal. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Crystal?
Crystal has a maximum depth of 8 feet and a mean depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Crystal last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crystal is from 2022.
Does Crystal have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Crystal in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 379.38 acres
- Max Depth
- 8 ft
- Mean Depth
- 8 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.45 mi
- Public Access
- Yes