Crooked

Crooked Lake is about 8 miles north of Marble and covers 418 acres. About a quarter of the lake is shallow water where vegetation can grow, and the deepest spot is 60 feet. Water clarity in 2025 was about 4.5 feet, which falls in the middle of what has been observed in past surveys. The Prairie River flows through the northwest corner. Anglers have two public accesses: a state access on the northwest shore off County Road 336 and a county access on the southeast basin off County Road 8. Northern pike are one of the main species managed in this lake. In the most recent survey, pike numbers were a little lower than the lake average, but the fish that were present tend to have decent size. Pike measured between 13 and 34 inches, averaging about 22 inches. About a third of the fish were in the North-central Zone protected 22-26 inch slot, and a small number were over 28 inches. Growth was about average, with pike reaching around 21 inches by age 4. Overall, anglers can expect a chance at quality-sized fish, just not high numbers. Walleye numbers remain on the low side, which has been typical for this lake. The latest catch rate was below both the lake average and management goal. Walleye numbers have been below expectations in most surveys. Fish sampled ranged from 11 to 24 inches, averaging 16 inches. Growth was average, with fish reaching about 15 inches by age 4. Walleye natural reproduction has been well documented, and past stockings has not consistently boosted numbers. Anglers should not expect fast action, but there are some keeper-sized fish available. Black crappie numbers were strong in the latest survey, higher than both the lake average and the previous survey. Most crappies measured between 4 and 11 inches, averaging about 7.5 inches. Fish over 10 inches are uncommon. Crappies show steady year classes, and growth catches up to average by about age 5. Anglers can expect decent numbers, though most fish will be under 10 inches. Bluegill catches were moderate and similar to past surveys. However, most fish are small. Bluegills ranged from 3 to just over 8 inches, averaging about 5 inches. Few fish exceeded 8 inches. Growth is a bit slower than average, with Bluegills taking about 6 years to reach 6 inches. Expect steady action but limited size. Yellow perch numbers continue to run below average. Most perch were between 5 and 8 inches, averaging about 6 inches, and size quality is low. These fish are generally small and may not draw much angler interest. Tullibee (cisco) have declined over the long term, and only one fish was caught in the latest survey. However, lakes like this are not known for high Tullibee numbers. Other species present include Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Brown and Yellow Bullhead, White Sucker, Shorthead and Silver Redhorse, Bowfin, and Golden Shiner.

Crooked Lake is a class 23 lake located 8 miles north of Marble, MN and is within the Mississippi River watershed. Crooked Lake has a surface area of 418 acres, a littoral area of 104 acres (25%) and a maximum depth of 60 feet. Secchi disk transparency, which is a standard measure of water clarity, was 7.5 feet, and has ranged from 3.1 - 9.0 feet in previous surveys. The Prairie River flows through the northwest corner of the lake. There are two public accesses on the lake. A state owned access is located on the northwest shore along Co. Rd. 336, and a County owned access is located on the southwest shore along Co. Rd. 8. The 2006 Lake Management Plan (LMP) lists Northern Pike and Walleye as primary species for management and Black Crappie and Bluegill as secondary species. The LMP goals were to increase the Walleye gill-net catch to 2.5 per net and maintain the Northern Pike gill-net catch at the lake mean of 3.8 per net. A standard survey was conducted in August of 2015 utilized 9 gill nets and 9 trap nets to obtain current information on the fish population. The Northern Pike gill-net catch rate decreased from 4.4/net in 2005 to 1.8/net, and was below the expected range for similar lakes (3.1 - 8.5) for the first time since 1992, and met the management goal. Northern Pike gill-net catch rates have varied from 1.0 - 7.0/net in previous surveys. Northern Pike from gill nets ranged from 11.7 - 34.1 inches with a mean length of 20.9 inches. Northern Pike averaged 19.2 inches at age 5, which is below the statewide average. Five age classes were represented in the sample. The Walleye gill-net catch rate increased from 0.9/net in 2005 to 2.2/net. The catch was within the ecpected range for similar lakes lakes (1.3 - 5.5) for the first time since 1988, and near the management goal of 2.5/net. Walleye gill-net catch rates have been below this range in 8 of 10 surveys. Walleye from gill nets ranged from 8.5 inches to 18.6 inches with a mean length of 16.4 inches. Walleye attained averaged 13.8 inches at age 4, which is comparable to the statewide average. Five consecutive age classes (age 1-5) were represented in the sample. Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked at a rate of one pound/ littoral acre (104 lbs.) every third year. Walleye natural reproduction has been well documented in previous surveys, and 70% of the walleye aged in the 2015 survey were from non-stocked years, suggesting that the population is maintained by natural reproduction. The Black Crappie gill-net catch rate decreased slightly from 2.8 /net in 2005 to 1.9 /net, but remained within the expected range for similar lakes (0.5 - 2.7). Black Crappie gill-net catch rates have varied from 1.5 - 6.0/net for the last 8 assessments. Black Crappie from gill nets ranged from 5.6 - 11.2 inches with a mean length of 7.6 inches. Reproduction appears consistent as 6 consecutive age classes (age 2 - 7) were sampled. Black Crappie growth rates were similar to the statewide average with a mean length of 8.3 inches at age 5. Few Black Crappie over 10 inches were sampled in this, or previous, surveys. The Bluegill trap-net catch rate increased from 7.7/net in 2005 to 10.2/net. The catch was the highest observed for the lake, but remained within the lake class range (5.6 - 42.3). Bluegill from trap nets ranged from 3.0 - 9.1 inches with a mean length of 5.0 inches. Seven consecutive age classes (age 2 - 8) were represented in the sample. Bluegill growth rates exceeded the lake class average with a mean length of 6.3 inches at age 5. The Yellow Perch gill-net catch rate decreased from 8.4 per net in 2005 to 3.1/net, but remained within the expected range for similar lakes (2.5 - 24.2). Yellow perch gill-net catch has varied from 0.8 - 8.4/net in previous assessments. Yellow perch from gill nets ranged from 5.4 - 7.1 inches. The Tullibee gill-net catch rate decreased from 0.7/net in 2005 to 0.4/net, and was below the expected range for similar lakes (0.7 - 6.5) for the first time. Tullibee gill net catches have shown a nearly steady decline since 1970 when the gill-net catch was 21.8 per net. Largemouth Bass have been sampled in low numbers in only 4 of 10 surveys. Two Largemouth Bass were sampled in 2015, one in a trap net and one in a gill net. Other species sampled included: Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. Crooked Lake is not known to support invasive species. Anglers and boaters are reminded to help stop the spread of invasive species by removing all aquatic plants from boats, trailers and equipment. All drain plugs must be removed and live and bait wells must be drained before leaving the access. Anglers and boaters are encouraged to power wash and thoroughly dry all equipment prior to use in another water body.

Crooked Lake is in ecological lake class 25 and is located approximately 12 miles north of Coleraine, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 418 acres and has a maximum depth of 60 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area staff on 7 July, 2015. Ten sampling sites (100 feet long) were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-ft or 15-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining (15-ft seine) and backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured a total of 16 different species; 12 species by seining and 10 species by backpack electrofishing. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report. Nearshore catches will be used with the gill net and trap net data from the standard survey conducted on 24 August, 2015, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Crooked has a maximum depth of 60 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crooked is from 2025.

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