Fifth Crow Wing

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Fifth 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 33.1 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 15.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 14.9 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 21.4 degrees C (70.5 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. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2009, 2023, 2024 indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in most years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2025 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Fifth Crow Wing Lake is located three miles southwest of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Fifth Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Fifth Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 400 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. There is no public access on Fifth Crow Wing Lake. A DNR-owned public access is located on the southwest shore of Sixth Crow Wing Lake, and boats can access through a short, narrow channel that connects the two lakes. Winter access is limited, as the channel is generally open though the winter. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Fifth 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: Second, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth Crow Wings, Boulder, Duck, Evergreen, Hattie, Hinds, Shingobee, Tripp and Lower Twin. A 24 to 36 inch protected slot limit on Northern Pike is in place on Fifth and Sixth Crow Wing Lakes. The objective of this regulations is to maintain or improve pike sizes in these lakes. Anglers can expect to find good numbers of Northern Pike in Fifth Crow Wing Lake. Northern Pike had an average length and weight of 21.4 inches and 2.3 pounds, with pike measured up to 35.9 inches. Walleyes were a good size for anglers, with most fish 13 to 23 inches. Walleyes grow fairly quickly, and had an average length of 16.6 inches. Yellow Perch, an important forage species for both Walleye and Northern Pike were sampled in good numbers. Yellow Perch are generally too small for anglers with most fish 6 - 7.5 inches. Spring sampling showed good numbers of Largemouth Bass. They had an average length of 14 inches, with fish sampled up to 19.7 inches. Fifth Crow Wing Lake supports a healthy panfish population and can provide good fishing for Black Crappie and Bluegill. Black Crappie can be found in moderate numbers compared to other local lakes. They were an average length of 9.1 inches, with crappies sampled up to 13 inches. Bluegills were sampled in good numbers, similar to past surveys. The majority sampled were 3.5 - 7 inches, but anglers will find larger Bluegill in the 8-9 inch size range. No aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Fifth Crow Wing Lake. 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.

Fifth Crow Wing Lake is located three miles southwest of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Fifth Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Fifth Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 400 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. There is no public access on Fifth Crow Wing Lake. A DNR-owned public access is located on the southwest shore of Sixth Crow Wing Lake, and boats can access through a short, narrow channel that connects the two lakes. Winter access is limited, as the channel is generally open though the winter. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Fifth 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: Second, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Crow Wings, Boulder, Duck, Evergreen, Hattie, Hinds, Shingobee, Tripp and Lower Twin. A special 24 to 36 inch protected slot limit on Northern Pike is in place on Fifth and Sixth Crow Wing Lakes. The objective of this regulations is to maintain or improve pike sizes in these lakes. Anglers can expect to find good numbers of Northern Pike in Fifth Crow Wing Lake. Northern Pike had an average length and weight of 21.8 inches and 2.3 pounds, with pike measured up to 32.5 inches. Walleyes were a good size for anglers, with all fish 13 to 26 inches. Walleyes grow fairly quickly, and had an average length of 18 inches. Yellow Perch, an important forage species for both Walleye and Northern Pike were sampled in good numbers. Yellow Perch are generally too small for anglers with most fish 6 - 7.5 inches. Spring sampling showed good numbers of Largemouth Bass. They had an average length of 15 inches, with fish sampled up to 18.5 inches. Fifth Crow Wing Lake supports a healthy panfish population and can provide good fishing for Black Crappie and Bluegill. The Black Crappie catch rate in 2019 was higher than the last sample, but still moderate numbers compared to other local lakes. They were an average length of 7.5 inches, with crappies sampled up to 12 inches. Bluegills were sampled in good numbers, similar to past surveys. The majority sampled were 3-6 inches, but anglers will find larger Bluegill in the 6-9 inch size range. No aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Fifth Crow Wing Lake. 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.

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

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

Fifth Crow Wing has a maximum depth of 35 feet and a mean depth of 15 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

No invasive species are on record for Fifth Crow Wing in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.