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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 boat launches on Pickerel Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?
- What is the average air temp for 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 Banded Killifish, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Spottail Shiner 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 boat launches on Pickerel Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?
What aquatic invasive species are found in Pickerel Lake?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
Pickerel Lake is a long, narrow, 361-acre lake located about seven miles northeast of Detroit Lakes. The shoreline is generally steep and rocky along this scenic lake. Pickerel Lake was recently part of a walleye stocking study along with several other Minnesota lakes. The study was designed to test the effectiveness of stocking fingerlings, frylings, or fry of various amounts. During the study, walleye frylings were stocked in 2001 at 150 per littoral acre (18,524 frl), walleye fry were stocked in 2003 at 1,000 per littoral acre (123,000 fry) and walleye fingerlings were stocked in 2005 at 0.5 pounds per littoral acre (63 lb). Fry stocking appeared to result in the strongest year class of walleye in Pickerel Lake in 2006.
The stocking study has now been completed. The lake's management plan now calls for annual stocking of walleye fry. This stocking regimen began in 2009 and that year class was relatively strong in the 2012 assessment. The current stocking strategy will continue to be evaluated during the next two assessments.
The average size of all sampled walleyes in Pickerel Lake in 2012 was 15.5 inches and 1.4 pounds. At 6.1 per net, walleye catch rates were still higher than the "normal" range compared to similar lakes, but lower than Pickerel Lake's historical average and long range goal.
In addition to walleye, good numbers of northern pike, bluegill, and largemouth bass were also sampled. A wide range of northern pike sizes was present, but most were under 24 inches in length. Most bluegills were in the 6.5 - 8.0 inch range and a few over 8.0 inches were found. Black crappies were not abundant but continue to exist in low numbers.
The health of any lake is a direct reflection of its watershed. Landowners within the watershed are strongly encouraged to implement the best land management practices possible. These practices include creating buffer zones of native vegetation around streams and shorelines, minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and adhering to shoreline ordinances.
What is the average air temp for Pickerel Lake?
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Pickerel Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Cotton Lake | 1.5 mi | 1,783 | 28 ft |
| Perch Lake | 2.1 mi | 48 | 38 ft |
| South Twin Lake | 2.6 mi | 139 | 37 ft |
| Momb Lake | 3.1 mi | 43 | 27 ft |
| Hanson Lake | 3.3 mi | 32 | 29 ft |
| Rock Lake | 3.7 mi | 1,196 | 18 ft |
| Rice Lake | 4.4 mi | 177 | 23 ft |
| North Tamarack Lake | 4.6 mi | 1,442 | 17 ft |
| Little Floyd Lake | 5.0 mi | 214 | 34 ft |
| Rice Lake | 5.4 mi | 231 | 23 ft |
