Second Crow Wing

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Second Crow Wing Lake on August 1st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 29.8 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 16.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 16.0 feet at the time of sampling. Therefore, the water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 21.5 degrees C (70.7 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. This is the first Minnesota Department of Natural Resources temperature and dissolved oxygen survey completed on Second Crow Wing Lake during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th). When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Second Crow Wing Lake is located six miles east of Hubbard in southern Hubbard County. Second Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Second Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 221 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. A DNR-owned public access is located within the Crow Wing Chain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on the southeast shore of Second Crow Wing Lake. The access is earthen, steep, tight, with limited parking area and generally used for carry in or small boats. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Second Crow Wing Lake is in Lake Class 31. Class 31 lakes generally have very hard water, and regularly shaped shorelines. Other class 31 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Crow Wings, Boulder, Duck, Evergreen, Hattie, Hinds, Shingobee, Tripp and Lower Twin. Second Crow Wing Lake supports a healthy panfish population and can provide good fishing for Bluegill and Black Crappie. Bluegills were sampled in good numbers, similar to past surveys. The majority sampled were 3-7 inches, but anglers will find larger Bluegills up to 9 inches. A special regulation of a daily limit of 5 for Bluegill was implemented in 2021. The objective of the lowered bag limit is to spread out the harvest and allow for more fish to attain larger sizes (8-10 inches). Black Crappie were sampled in moderate numbers with an average size of 8.3 inches and fish measured up to 11.9 inches. Walleyes were sampled in low numbers. Walleyes ranged from 10.4 to 19.8 inches with an average length of 16.5 inches. Yellow Perch, an important forage species for both Walleye and Northern Pike were sampled in low numbers. Most Yellow Perch were too small for anglers, at 5 - 7 inches. Anglers can expect to find good numbers of Northern Pike in Second Crow Wing Lake. Northern Pike had an average length and weight of 20 inches and 2 pounds, with fish measured up to 32 inches. Summer sampling of Largemouth Bass showed good numbers with sizes ranging from 11.1 - 15.4 inches with an average length of 13.6 inches. Second Crow Wing Lake was listed in 2011 as infested with faucet snails, an aquatic invasive species (AIS). To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Second Crow Wing Lake (29-0216-00) is a 221.44-acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 feet located 8.5 miles south of Nevis, MN. Park Rapids staff conducted a survey targeting near shore fish species on July 18, 2019 to assess populations of non-game and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat conditions. During this assessment, three sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine and four sites were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at three sites. Backpack electrofishing was done at all 10 sites, several of which were conducted from the side of the boat. Nearshore sampling captured ten species of fish including two species intolerant of disturbance; Banded Killifish and Blackchin Shiner. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Common Shiner, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. Nearshore catches will be used along with gill net and trap net catch data from a standard fisheries survey conducted on June 24, 2019, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score, which is indicative of the health of Second Crow Wing Lake. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Second Crow Wing Lake is located in the Crow Wing River Watershed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass in Second Crow Wing. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Second Crow Wing. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Second Crow Wing has a maximum depth of 35 feet and a mean depth of 14 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Second Crow Wing is from 2024.

Yes — Second Crow Wing has confirmed faucet snail. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.