Nicado

Nicado Lake is located within Tettegouche State Park with access from the trailhead off of the main Park entrance at State Highway 61, or the service road off of Lake County Road 402 (Lax Lake Road). Both routes require considerable hikes of more than a mile over steep terrain. No motors are allowed on lakes within Tettegouche State Park. The 2009 population assessment captured only 5 northern pike which averaged 20.3 inches in length. Ages 3 and 4 were present in the sampled and exhibited average growth. A few minnows and one pumpkinseed sunfish was also sampled. The simplistic fish community and low abundance do not provide much enticement to angle on Nicado Lake. Check at the Tettegouche State Park Headquarters on State Highway 61 for information and maps.

Nicado Lake is a very small, fairly remote lake in Tettegouche State Park. The lake is accessible by a maintained hiking trail over rough terrain.Northern pike were the only fish collected in DNR nets in the 2002 survey. Test nets indicate that northern pike are fairly abundant compared to other lakes of this type. The average weight of the northern pike collected was small, averaging about 1.4 pounds. The largest northern pike in the sample was 21.1 inches (2.4 pounds).Several very small pumpkinseed sunfish were observed along the shoreline, however, none were captured in gill nets during the 2002 survey.

The 1989 Northern Pike catch of 14/gillnet lift was the highest of any population assessment on Nicado Lake. These netting results were unexpected because of the low oxygen levels recorded in the lake during the winter of 1988-89. A mean length of 23.5 inches, and mean weight of 3.5 pounds indicates that the quality of Northern Pike in Nicado Lake is above the average for lakes with similar physical characteristics. No other species were sampled during the assessment.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike in Nicado. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Nicado has a maximum depth of 18 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Nicado is from 2009. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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