Crane Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be not very active with peak fishing times around 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions About Crane Lake, MN
- How big is Crane Lake?
- How deep is Crane Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Crane Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Crane Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Crane Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Crane Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Crane Lake?
- What are the fishing regulations for Crane Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Crane Lake?
How big is Crane Lake?
How deep is Crane Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Crane Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Common Shiner, Golden Shiner, Johnny Darter, Lake Whitefish, Logperch, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Lamprey, Silver Redhorse, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Crane Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Crane Lake?
Are there boat launches on Crane Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Crane Lake?
What are the fishing regulations for Crane Lake?
There are specific fishing regulations Crane Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?
Explore the Crane Lake area in a RV
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What aquatic invasive species are found in Crane 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
Crane is a 2,920 acre lake in St. Louis County, located 28 miles northeast of Orr, MN. The community of Crane Lake, MN is located on the southwest end of the lake, and there are two concrete access points on the south side of the lake, one state and one county owned. Crane is part of the Namakan Reservoir which includes Sand Point, Namakan, Kabetogama, and Little Vermilion Lake, and is a popular entry point for Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Crane is a diverse fishery with multiple species of interest to anglers. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Crane in 2021.
Crane Lake continues to produce an excellent Walleye and Sauger fishery. Walleye exceeded the expected range for abundance, and an average fish in the 2021 sample was 12.5 inches. The high catch rates of 2-3 year old fish in 2021 should provide good Walleye angling opportunities in the coming years. Sauger catch rates are within the expected range for Crane, and an average fish is 11.4 inches.
Smallmouth Bass are abundant and an average fish from the 2021 sample was just over 12 inches. Fish over 19 inches were caught during this survey.
Northern Pike catch rates were within the expected range for this class of lake, however, the average size was beyond what was expected. An average Northern Pike from the 2021 sample was 4.8 pounds and ranged from 18 to 33.6 inches. Crane, along with the rest of the Namakan Reservoir lakes, has a history of producing trophy pike.
Black Crappie catch rates were below the expected range for this type of lake, but that may have been influenced by the timing of sampling efforts. Size of Black Crappie was above the expected range, with fish caught during the 2021 survey being 11.2 inches and .83 pounds on average.
Yellow Perch catch rates exceeded expectations, and an average fish was 7 inches in 2021. Other species present during the 2021 survey included White Sucker, Redhorse, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Cisco, and Muskellunge.
What is the average air temp for Crane Lake?
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Crane Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Dovre Lake | 2.2 mi | 116 | 17 ft |
| Section Twenty-Nine Lake | 2.8 mi | 22 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.8 mi | 15 | |
| Little Vermilion Lake | 2.8 mi | 1,288 | 52 ft |
| Knute Lake | 3.3 mi | 15 | |
| Mukooda Lake | 3.5 mi | 774 | 78 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 3.6 mi | 10 | |
| Herriman Lake | 3.9 mi | 47 | |
| Baylis Lake | 4.7 mi | 67 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 4.8 mi | 17 |
