Crystal

Crystal Lake is a 32-acre Class 36 lake located in the City of Prior Lake. The area around Crystal Lake is currently being redeveloped, changing from a primarily agricultural area to a residential area with a city park. The City of Prior Lake operates an aerator throughout the winter months to reduce the potentials or impacts of winterkill. The Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program has stocked Crystal Lake since 2007 with adult Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. During the summer 2016 survey, Bluegill was the most abundant species sampled. Lengths of Bluegills ranged from 3.0-8.0 inches with an average length of 5.9 inches. Black Crappie was the second-most abundant species sampled. Black Crappie abundance was above the median for this lake type. The average length of trapnet-caught Black Crappie was 7.8 inches; the length range was 4.7-9.7 inches. Nine Northern Pike were captured with a single gill net. Total length of Northern Pike ranged from 15.2-31.9 inches with an average length of 19.2 inches. Other species captured during the survey were Black Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and Pumpkinseed. For more information about the FiN program or to see what FiN has done in your neighborhood, please visit us at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin.

Crystal Lake is a 32-acre, class 36 lake located in the City of Prior Lake. The area around Crystal Lake is currently being redeveloped, and is changing from a primary agricultural area to a residential and city park. Recently the City of Prior Lake has installed an aerator, fishing pier and a walking path around the majority of the lake. The Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program has stocked Crystal Lake since 2007 with bluegill, largemouth bass and northern pike. During the 2009 survey of Crystal Lake, northern pike captured ranged in length from 23.2 to 25.8 inches in length. The average length of northern pike captured was 24.3 inches. Bluegill abundance was above the median level for this lake type. The average length of bluegill caught during this survey was 5.2 inches in length. Their range in total length was 3.7 to 8.7 inches. Although trap netting is not as effective as electrofishing in sampling largemouth bass, trap net abundance during this survey was well above the median for class 36 lakes. Average length of largemouth bass was 8.0 inches, with a range in length from 5.6 to 14.4 inches. Other species captured in during the survey were black bullhead, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish and pumpkinseed sunfish. One-hundred and six painted turtles were captured as well as five snapping turtles. For more information about the FiN program or to see what FiN has done in your neighborhood, please visit us at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin.

Crystal Lake is a 32-acre lake located in the city of Prior Lake. Crystal Lake was first surveyed in 1976, and has been surveyed twice subsequently. Dissolved oxygen measurements indicate that Crystal Lake experiences a partial or complete winterkill during some years. The area around Crystal Lake is currently being redeveloped, and is changing from a primary agricultural area to a residential and city park area. Currently, there is no shorefishing access to the lake. Black and brown bullheads are the predominant species in Crystal Lake. Both black and brown bullheads were sampled in above average abundance. The lengths of black bullheads ranged from 3.9 to 10.6 inches, averaging 6.0 inches. The lengths of brown bullheads ranged from 4.7 to 10.8 inches, averaging 7.9 inches. Golden shiners were sampled in small numbers. One snapping turtle and 57 painted turtles were also sampled. The fish community sampled during the 2004 survey varied little from either previous survey. Crystal Lake has been a bullhead-dominated system since first surveyed. The DNR Fishing in the Neighborhood Program (FiN) and the city of Prior Lake are interested in expanding fishing and aquatic education opportunities at Crystal Lake. Future management activities may include stocking of panfish and/or game fish species and providing access for anglers.For more information about the FiN program or to see what FiN has done in your neighborhood, please visit us at: Fishing in the Neighborhood: Minnesota DNR (www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin).

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Green Sunfish, and Hybrid Sunfish in Crystal. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Crystal. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Crystal has a maximum depth of 26 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crystal is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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.