Crooked Lake

How big is Crooked Lake?

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What kind of fish can you catch in Crooked Lake?

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Are there boat launches on Crooked Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Crooked Lake?

Crooked Lake is a class 23 lake located 8 miles north of Marble, MN and is within the Mississippi River watershed. Crooked Lake has a surface area of 418 acres, a littoral area of 104 acres (25%) and a maximum depth of 60 feet. Secchi disk transparency, which is a standard measure of water clarity, was 7.5 feet, and has ranged from 3.1 - 9.0 feet in previous surveys. The Prairie River flows through the northwest corner of the lake. There are two public accesses on the lake. A state owned access is located on the northwest shore along Co. Rd. 336, and a County owned access is located on the southwest shore along Co. Rd. 8.

The 2006 Lake Management Plan (LMP) lists Northern Pike and Walleye as primary species for management and Black Crappie and Bluegill as secondary species. The LMP goals were to increase the Walleye gill-net catch to 2.5 per net and maintain the Northern Pike gill-net catch at the lake mean of 3.8 per net.

A standard survey was conducted in August of 2015 utilized 9 gill nets and 9 trap nets to obtain current information on the fish population.

The Northern Pike gill-net catch rate decreased from 4.4/net in 2005 to 1.8/net, and was below the expected range for similar lakes (3.1 - 8.5) for the first time since 1992, and met the management goal. Northern Pike gill-net catch rates have varied from 1.0 - 7.0/net in previous surveys. Northern Pike from gill nets ranged from 11.7 - 34.1 inches with a mean length of 20.9 inches. Northern Pike averaged 19.2 inches at age 5, which is below the statewide average. Five age classes were represented in the sample.

The Walleye gill-net catch rate increased from 0.9/net in 2005 to 2.2/net. The catch was within the ecpected range for similar lakes lakes (1.3 - 5.5) for the first time since 1988, and near the management goal of 2.5/net. Walleye gill-net catch rates have been below this range in 8 of 10 surveys. Walleye from gill nets ranged from 8.5 inches to 18.6 inches with a mean length of 16.4 inches. Walleye attained averaged 13.8 inches at age 4, which is comparable to the statewide average. Five consecutive age classes (age 1-5) were represented in the sample. Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked at a rate of one pound/ littoral acre (104 lbs.) every third year. Walleye natural reproduction has been well documented in previous surveys, and 70% of the walleye aged in the 2015 survey were from non-stocked years, suggesting that the population is maintained by natural reproduction.

The Black Crappie gill-net catch rate decreased slightly from 2.8 /net in 2005 to 1.9 /net, but remained within the expected range for similar lakes (0.5 - 2.7). Black Crappie gill-net catch rates have varied from 1.5 - 6.0/net for the last 8 assessments. Black Crappie from gill nets ranged from 5.6 - 11.2 inches with a mean length of 7.6 inches. Reproduction appears consistent as 6 consecutive age classes (age 2 - 7) were sampled. Black Crappie growth rates were similar to the statewide average with a mean length of 8.3 inches at age 5. Few Black Crappie over 10 inches were sampled in this, or previous, surveys.

The Bluegill trap-net catch rate increased from 7.7/net in 2005 to 10.2/net. The catch was the highest observed for the lake, but remained within the lake class range (5.6 - 42.3). Bluegill from trap nets ranged from 3.0 - 9.1 inches with a mean length of 5.0 inches. Seven consecutive age classes (age 2 - 8) were represented in the sample. Bluegill growth rates exceeded the lake class average with a mean length of 6.3 inches at age 5.

The Yellow Perch gill-net catch rate decreased from 8.4 per net in 2005 to 3.1/net, but remained within the expected range for similar lakes (2.5 - 24.2). Yellow perch gill-net catch has varied from 0.8 - 8.4/net in previous assessments. Yellow perch from gill nets ranged from 5.4 - 7.1 inches.

The Tullibee gill-net catch rate decreased from 0.7/net in 2005 to 0.4/net, and was below the expected range for similar lakes (0.7 - 6.5) for the first time. Tullibee gill net catches have shown a nearly steady decline since 1970 when the gill-net catch was 21.8 per net.

Largemouth Bass have been sampled in low numbers in only 4 of 10 surveys. Two Largemouth Bass were sampled in 2015, one in a trap net and one in a gill net.

Other species sampled included: Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.

Crooked Lake is not known to support invasive species. Anglers and boaters are reminded to help stop the spread of invasive species by removing all aquatic plants from boats, trailers and equipment. All drain plugs must be removed and live and bait wells must be drained before leaving the access. Anglers and boaters are encouraged to power wash and thoroughly dry all equipment prior to use in another water body.

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