Pickerel

Pickerel Lake is located ten miles north of Park Rapids in central Hubbard County. Pickerel Lake is a relatively shallow lake with a surface area of 310 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. There is a state-owned earthen public access located on the south shore of the east basin. Pickerel provides angling opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Panfish, and Northern Pike and Walleye. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Pickerel is in lake class 35. Class 35 lakes are characterized by having a large littoral area (water depth less than 15 feet) and an irregular shaped shoreline. Other class 35 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Crystal, Frontenac, Middle Crooked, and Waboose. Pickerel Lake supports a healthy Largemouth Bass population and has great habitat to support them. Numbers in 2021 were in line with past surveys, with a larger than average size due to very few small bass being sampled. Largemouth Bass ranged from 12.4 to 17.4 inches in length. Pickerel Lake supports an abundant panfish population and can provide good fishing for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed. Anglers will find Bluegill and Pumpkinseed in the 5.5 - 8 inch size range and Black Crappie in the 7 - 9 inch size range. Past and present surveys have shown Pickerel Lake to have a moderate Northern Pike population composed of small to medium sized fish. Sampled Northern Pike had an average length of 19.3 inches and weighed 1.6 pounds. Historically, the number of larger Northern Pike over 28 inches has been low, with only one pike larger than 28 inches in 2021. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Pickerel 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 boats before leaving the access.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on August 17, 2016 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten stations with four sites sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, a 15-foot seine was used at three stations, and conditions prevented the use of seines at three sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 11 native species of fish including species that are intolerant of habitat disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass). Data from this survey is combined with data from a standard game fish survey completed in July 2016 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI score for Pickerel Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes and indicates a healthy fish community. Data from this survey will be included as part of a process to assess the condition of surface waters of the Crow Wing River watershed.

Pickerel Lake (29-0178-00) is a 310-acre lake with a maximum depth of 26 feet Located north of Park Rapids, MN. A survey targeting near shore fish species was conducted by Park Rapids Fisheries Staff on 28 July 2016 to assess populations of non-game species 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 condition. During this assessment, one site was sampled with a 50-foot seine and eight sites were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at one site. Backpack electrofishing was done at all ten sites, several of which were conducted from the side of the boat. Nearshore sampling captured several species of fish including two species intolerant of disturbance such as Banded Killifish, and Blackchin Shiner. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. Nearshore catches will be used along with gillnet and trapnet catch data from a survey on 7 - 14 July 2017, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of the health of Pickerel Lake. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Pickerel Lake is located in the Crow Wing River Watershed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Rock Bass, and Walleye in Pickerel. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Pickerel has a maximum depth of 26 feet and a mean depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pickerel is from 2021.

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