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Pokegama Lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and water sports. Common fish species found in Pokegama Lake include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and muskie. The lake is also home to several public access points, including several boat launches and fishing piers.
The surrounding area offers several parks, beaches, and hiking trails. Pokegama Lake is home to several beaches, including Sugar Sand Beach and Tioga Beach, which offer swimming and sunbathing. The Chippewa National Forest is located to the north of the lake, providing opportunities for camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
The city of Grand Rapids, which is located on the northern shore of the lake, offers several dining and shopping options, as well as several cultural attractions, such as the Judy Garland Museum and the Reif Performing Arts Center.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pokegama Lake, MN
- How big is Pokegama Lake?
- How deep is Pokegama Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Pokegama Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Pokegama Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Pokegama Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Pokegama Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Pokegama Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Pokegama Lake?
- What are the fishing regulations for Pokegama Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Pokegama Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Pokegama Lake?
How big is Pokegama Lake?
How deep is Pokegama Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Pokegama Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Common Shiner, Golden Redhorse, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Lake Whitefish, Mimic Shiner, Rainbow Smelt, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Pokegama Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Pokegama Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Pokegama Lake?
Are there boat launches on Pokegama Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Pokegama Lake?
What are the fishing regulations for Pokegama Lake?
There are specific fishing regulations Pokegama 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?
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What aquatic invasive species are found in Pokegama 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
The 2022 Lake Management Plan (LMP) identified Bluegill and Walleye as primary management species and bass, Muskie, and Northern Pike as secondary management species. Rainbow Smelt is a non-native species discovered in Pokegama in the early 1980s that has established a naturalized population. The origin of smelt and effect on the fish community are unclear beyond their importance as a prey species. There is a spring spawning run in Sugar Brook that is popular with smelt netters. Early efforts to sample smelt used a variety of methods but were standardized beginning with the 1995 fall survey. The goal of the 2023 smelt survey was to monitor the long-term trends in the population following a widespread die-off in the summer of 2011. Twelve small-mesh gill nets (0.375 and 0.5 inch) were set during the week of October 9th.
Caution is advised when interpreting smelt catch rates because they are a schooling species that often suspends over deeper water, resulting in variable catches. Small-mesh gill nets have sampled smelt as high as 99.0/net in 2005 and as low as 0.4/net in 2011. The 2023 catch of 8.8 smelt/net was somewhat lower than the 14.1/net observed in 2015. The sampled fish ranged from 4.1 to 5.4 inches and had a mean length of 4.8 inches. Nearly 98% of the sample were captured in the smaller 0.375 inch mesh. Angler reports of large clouds of presumed smelt on their electronics or in an ice-hole suggests we may be under-sampling the population. No attempt to age the smelt occurred in this survey.
Yellow Perch catches have ranged from 15.3/net in 2000 to 193.8/net in 2015. The perch catch of 47.2/net was down from a record high in 2015. The sampled fish ranged from 2.9 to 6.4 inches and had a mean length of 4.5 inches. A total of 348 measured perch were examined for sex and maturity. Of the 51 females sampled, nearly 85% were immature that ranged from 3.0 to 5.4 inches (mean = 4.4 inches) while the remainder were mature that ranged from 4.7 to 6.4 inches (mean = 5.2 inches). In contrast, of the 297 males, only 1.4% were immature that ranged from 3.0 to 5.0 inches (mean = 3.8 inches) while 98.7% were mature ranging from 2.9 to 5.4 inches (mean = 4.4 inches). Sex and maturity data had not been collected from the fall small-mesh gill net surveys prior to 2023 so it is not clear if it reflects any changes in the population. However, it demonstrates earlier maturation of males than previously thought and is consistent with recent research from around the state.
Other species sampled included Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch, Walleye, and Yellow Bullhead.
What is the average air temp for Pokegama Lake?
Are there any state parks near Pokegama Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Pokegama Lake Reviews
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Pokegama Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Stokey Lake | 2.2 mi | 12 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.6 mi | 32 | |
| Horseshoe Lake | 2.7 mi | 142 | 11 ft |
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| Salter Pond | 3.1 mi | 25 | 0 ft |
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| Unnamed Lake | 3.6 mi | 153 | |
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