Crooked Lake

How big is Crooked Lake?

How deep is Crooked Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Crooked Lake?

What are the closest cities to Crooked Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Crooked Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Crooked Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Crooked 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?

Long and Crooked Lakes are small, interconnected lakes located three miles southwest of the City of Clearwater. Long Lake is 49 acres and has a maximum depth of 38 feet, while Crooked Lake is 65 acres with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lakes are connected by a navigable channel on the south end of Long Lake. A public access is located on the west side of Long Lake however parking is limited with room for only three vehicle trailer combinations. The lakes have good water quality (13' clarity) and support a diverse plant community. A targeted electrofishing survey was conducted in 2022 to evaluate any changes in the Largemouth Bass fishery since the last survey in 2016.

Largemouth Bass have a history of being abundant and small in Long and Crooked Lakes. In 2006, a 12 - 20-inch protected slot limit was put in place for Largemouth Bass. The goal of this regulation was to increase the size structure of the Largemouth Bass population. Prior to the regulation change, the Largemouth Bass catch rate was 110/hr. Since that time, the lakes have been electrofished four times (2011, 2015, 2016, and 2022). Catch rates have ranged from a low of 88.2/ hr. to a high of 141/hr., with an average of 104.8/hr. In 2022, the bass catch rate was 92.7/hr.

All five bass surveys conducted on Long and Crooked Lakes have showed higher than average catch rates compared to other lakes in the area. The size structure also appears to have increased since the special regulation has been in place. Pre-regulation (2001), bass averaged 9.2 inches long compared to post-regulation (2015 - 2022) where the average size has increased to 11.0 inches.

Pre-regulation (2001) 19% of the bass sampled were 12 inches or longer and only 3% were 15 inches or longer. Post-regulation (2015 - 2022) 38% of the bass were 12 inches or longer and 7% were 15 inches or longer. Even with the regulation in place and an increase in average size, bass over 15 inches are still relatively rare.

What is the average air temp for Crooked Lake?