Pickerel Lake
Lake County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be fairly active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Pickerel Lake.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 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 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 places to eat and drink near Pickerel Lake?
Explore the Pickerel Lake area in a RV
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History & Status of the Fishery
Pickerel is a 182-acre lake located nine miles east of Ely down the Glipi forest road off the Fernberg Trail. It is a shallow, relatively productive walleye lake similar to Everett, Perch, and Western in the Tower area. The access is carry-in and best suited to canoes and kayaks. A boat with portage wheels is challenging with the rocks present. Typically, the lake is brown with bog-stain. At the time of the 2023 survey the survey crew found the max depth to be 12.3 feet and the water had a green tint. A beaver dam below the outlet appeared to have blown out during the high water of 2022 and dropped the lake level as a result. Pickerel was not stratified on 7/17/2023 and had a temperature of 68F. Oxygen levels sufficient for fish were present to the bottom. Secchi visibility was 8 feet and submerged vegetation is abundant.
The 2023 survey consisted of four gill net and six trap nets sets over two nights. Gill net catches were dominated by walleye and northern pike, with small numbers of smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and a lone white sucker also sampled. Trap nets primarily captured walleye as well, with bluegill secondary, and low numbers of northern pike and rock bass.
Walleye abundance (26.8/gill net) was far above average and ranks second for the highest Tower Area catch rate. Lengths ranged from 8 to 24 inches with a mean of 17 inches. Walleye growth was excellent and natural reproduction is consistent.
Northern pike abundance (4.8/gill net) was average compared to similar Tower area lakes. Pike lengths ranged from 21 to 30 inches with a mean of 24 inches.
A few smallmouth bass (1.3/net) were captured, but they are likely more abundant in Pickerel than this survey suggests. Standard survey nets often underrepresent bass. Lengths ranged from 13 to 16 inches with an average length of about 14 inches.
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 | |
| Kempton Lake | 0.8 mi | 69 | 5 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 0.9 mi | 581 | |
| Pea Soup Lake | 1.6 mi | 15 | |
| Clear Lake | 2.0 mi | 248 | 17 ft |
| Eskwagama Lake | 2.0 mi | 88 | 12 ft |
| South Farm Lake | 2.3 mi | 564 | 31 ft |
| Greenstone Lake | 2.6 mi | 332 | 72 ft |
| Stub Lake | 2.6 mi | 89 | 20 ft |
| Farm Lake | 3.3 mi | 1,292 | 56 ft |
| Conchu Lake | 3.3 mi | 50 | 67 ft |
