Pickerel Lake

How big is Pickerel Lake?

How deep is Pickerel Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Pickerel Lake?

Are there boat launches on Pickerel Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?

Pickerel Lake is a 123-acre lake with a maximum depth of 60 feet located in southern Clearwater County. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different lake classes based on physical characteristics, water chemistry and fish community. Pickerel Lake is in Lake Class 28 along with Bungo, Deep, First, and Lomond lakes in Clearwater County. Lakes in this class are typically small, deep, infertile lakes with clear water and round basins. During the 1990s and early 2000s the water level of Pickerel Lake rose approximately 10 feet, which flooded shoreline timber and inundated the public water access, which was located on the southeast shore of the lake at the end of Pine Island Lake Road north of State Highway 113. Currently, the access is difficult for larger boats with little room to turn around or park and is more suited to smaller or non-motorized watercraft. Most of the shoreline of the lake is undeveloped, with a small number of lakeside homes and cabins. Pickerel Lake is managed for Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Northern Pike. Due to the low fertility of the lake, growth rates of most fish species are slow, which can limit the maximum size they are able to achieve.

Black Crappie catch rates in both gill nets and trap nets (6.83/gill net and 3.38/trap net) were above average when compared to other lakes of similar size and type, indicating that Pickerel's crappie population is fairly abundant. The average size of Black Crappie captured in trap nets (9.7 inches in length and 0.49 lbs/fish) was similar to that of other Class 28 lakes. Black Crappie up to 11.77 inches in length were captured in the 2014 assessment. The extensive flooded timber and aquatic vegetation found within the lake provides excellent habitat for all species present including Black Crappie.

Largemouth Bass are abundant in the lake as well, with a gill net catch rate (2.5/gill net) above the normal range for Lake Class 28 lakes. The average size of Largemouth Bass captured (11.94 inches in length and 1.04 lbs/fish) was also similar to other Class 28 lakes. Bass up to 15.39 inches in length were captured in the assessment. Largemouth Bass utilize Bluegill as their primary forage species in Pickerel Lake.

While Pickerel Lake has been known for an overabundant Bluegill population dominated by small fish, the 2014 assessment showed some improvement in the population since the previous assessment in 2004. The Bluegill catch rate of 21.13/trap net declined considerably from 2004 (35.56/trap net) and was within the normal range for lake class (14.25/gill net to 40.45/gill net). Average size was also similar at 0.17 lbs/fish. The largest Bluegill captured was 8.35 inches in length. A majority of the Bluegill catch was between 5.5 inches and 7.0 inches in length. Twenty percent of the Bluegill captured were greater than 7 inches in length. Slow growth rates are a limiting factor in the production of quality-size Bluegill in Pickerel Lake.

Northern pike were captured at a rate of 6/gill net, which is just above the median value of 5/gill net for Lake Class 28 lakes. Unlike many area lakes, Pickerel still holds a Pike population that is not dominated by lots of small "hammer handle" fish, although there has been a considerable decrease in average size of Northern Pike since the 2004 assessment. In 2004, the average size of Pike captured was a very respectable 27.47 inches in length and 5.09 lbs/fish. Average size declined to 21.9 inches in length and 2.7 lbs/fish in 2014. The largest Northern Pike captured in the 2014 assessment was 35.63 inches in length. Twenty five percent of Northern Pike captured in the assessment were greater than 24 inches in length. Unlike bass and panfish, Northern Pike grow quickly in Pickerel Lake, with growth rates above those measured in similar lakes, resulting in the potential to produce larger fish.

Other species of fish captured in the 2014 assessment of Pickerel Lake were Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, and Brown Bullhead.

Are there any state parks near Pickerel Lake?