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Frequently Asked Questions About Pickerel Lake, MN
- How big is Pickerel Lake?
- How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Pickerel Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Pickerel Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Pickerel Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Pickerel Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Pickerel Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Pickerel Lake?
How big is Pickerel Lake?
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Pickerel Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Pickerel Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Pickerel Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Pickerel Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?
Explore the Pickerel Lake area in a RV
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Outbound Xtreme x58 off-road capable teardrop camper with rooftop Tent
Crosby, MN
History & Status of the Fishery
Pickerel Lake is a highly productive and relatively turbid lake only a few miles west of Aitkin. Pickerel Lake maintains a very popular winter fishery for lake and Aitkin area residents. Access is limited to a private lakeshore owner who has allowed access in winter. Winter fishing pressure for panfish appears to be high despite the limited access. There is no public access to the lake during the summer season.
The primary interest to anglers on Pickerel Lake is bluegill and black crappie. Bluegill numbers from the trap net catches have increased from the last survey in 1998, and are above average for this lake type. Growth of bluegills was average compared to other lakes in Aitkin County. The bluegills in the trap net ranged from 3.9 to 8.5 inches long, and their average size has increased from 5.1 inches in 1998 to 7.1 inches in length this year. Nearly 64% of them were over 7 inches long.
Black crappie abundance has remained stable since 1998 and is above the average for this lake type. Black crappies grew slower than normal compared to a state wide average, but only the fourth and fifth year were slow compared to the county average. Only 8% of the black crappies were over nine inches in length, indicating strong fishing pressure. If allowed to grow, the strong year classes from 2003 and 2005 should reach preferred size (10 inches) within a few years.
The abundance of northern pike has decreased from the last survey to a level below the statewide median for this lake class. Growth rates are still good and average size is high, with half of the fish over 24 inches. Fishing pressure may be taking a toll on the northern pike population. Overfishing these small lakes is easy to do, so remember to practice catch and release.
Yellow perch are present in good numbers, but tend to be small. These provide excellent forage for the northern pike population. Yellow bullheads are not over abundant and are respectably sized, ranging from 10 to 14 inches in length. Bowfin are abundant and appear to be effective in controlling the abundance of small bluegills and crappies in the lake.
What is the average air temp for Pickerel Lake?
Are there any state parks near Pickerel Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Pickerel Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Bass Lake | 0.5 mi | 27 | 38 ft |
| Bass Lake | 0.5 mi | 32 | 38 ft |
| Bass Lake | 0.5 mi | 27 | 38 ft |
| Dogfish Lake | 0.8 mi | 35 | 85 ft |
| Blue Lake | 1.3 mi | 54 | 106 ft |
| Hammal Lake | 2.5 mi | 376 | 44 ft |
| Taylor Lake | 2.6 mi | 47 | 47 ft |
| Pine Island Lake | 2.6 mi | 41 | 8 ft |
| Carlson Lake | 2.7 mi | 38 | 23 ft |
| Cedar Lake | 3.0 mi | 1,745 | 105 ft |
