Pickerel

St. Louis County

Near Eagles Nest

DOW: 69028600

Northern PikeExcellent · 77Largemouth BassGood · 50BluegillPoor · 24

A 40-acre lake near Eagles Nest in St. Louis County — best known for pike and bass. Last surveyed 2012.

Fish Species (5)

Northern Pike

Excellent · 77

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.2"

Avg Weight

2.42 lbs

Catch rate: 5.5 per gill net · typical 1.3–5.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike33% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 67%Largest sampled 29"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 20, 2012	5.50	20.2"	2.42 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 20, 2012	0.78	20.2"	1.86 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.2"

Catch rate: 2.8 per trap net

Size of catchable largemouth bass50% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 50%Largest sampled 12"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 20, 2012	2.75	4.2"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Aug 20, 2012	0.22	4.2"	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 20, 2012	1.00	4.2"	0.62 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Poor · 24

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.4"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 15.0 per trap net · typical 4.3–34.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 20, 2012	57.00	3.4"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Aug 20, 2012	15.00	3.4"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 20, 2012	1.00	3.4"	0.04 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Poor · 20

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

0.36 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.8–3.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 20, 2012	0.50	10.0"	0.36 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

1.4"

Catch rate: 4.3 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 20, 2012	4.25	1.4"	-	1/4-in trap nets

Biologist Notes

August 20, 2012Pickerel Lake is a small (40 acres) but deep (36 feet) lake located off the Bear Head Lake State Park Road six miles east of Soudan. The lake is clear…

Pickerel Lake is a small (40 acres) but deep (36 feet) lake located off the Bear Head Lake State Park Road six miles east of Soudan. The lake is clear and relatively unproductive. There are two small inlets and the outlet flows into Armstrong Lake to the north. There is no public access on Pickerel Lake however, approximately 70% of the shoreline in in public ownership (county tax forfeit). Five species of fish were captured during the 2012 investigation; northern pike, bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Northern pike abundance (5.5/gill net) was higher than in 1976, the only previous assessment on Pickerel Lake. Pike lengths ranged from 12.9 to 29.1 inches with an average of 21.8 inches. Growth rates exceeded Area standards. Bluegill abundance (15.0/trap net) exceeded the median of all lakes in the same classification as Pickerel. No bluegill were present at the time of the previous assessment in 1976. Bluegill in the 2012 assessement were small ranging from 3.4 to 7.9 inches and averaging 5.1 inches. Growth rates were extremely slow. A small number of largemouth bass were also caught during the 2012 assessment. These bass ranged from 5.7 to 12.4 inches. Largemouth were not present during the 1976 assessment. Only one walleye was caught in 2012. A low number were also present in 1976. Pickerel Lake was stocked with small walleye fingerlings in 1974 and 1977 however, it is not known if this stocking was successful in creating a population or if walleye arrived in Pickerel Lake by some other means.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Pickerel?

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

Is there public access at Pickerel?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Pickerel. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Pickerel?

Pickerel has a maximum depth of 57 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Pickerel last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pickerel is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.