Pelican

Pelican is a 11,546-acre, class 7 lake located west of Highway 53 at Orr, MN. Slightly over half (54%) of the lake is littoral area. Centrarchids, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch dominate the sport-fish community. Special regulations protecting Northern Pike (24 to 38 inches) and Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (14 to 20 inches) were enacted in the spring of 1998 for a period of 10 years. The regulations were implemented to address concerns about declining Northern Pike quality and to protect the high-quality bass fishery that was present. The Northern Pike regulation was modified in 2001; fish from 24 to 32 inches were protected. In 2008, the regulations were reviewed, and the decision was to continue for an additional 10-year trial period. The bass regulation remained the same and the Northern Pike regulation was modified to match similar lakes in Minnesota (24 to 36 inches protected). Currently, Northern Pike on Pelican are managed under the north-central zone state regulation. The statewide Northern Pike regulation for the north-central zone allows anglers harvest 10 Northern Pike with not more than 2 over 26 inches and all Northern Pike between 22-26 inches must be immediately released. The bass regulation remains the same at all 14" - 20" fish must be immediately released. Black Crappie catch rate was 3.2 fish per net, which was above the average for similar lakes. Catch rate was above the management goal of 2.6 fish per net for Pelican Lake. Length ranged from 4.1 to 10.6 inches and the average was 6.4 inches. Average weight was 0.2 pounds, which is less than the average for similar lakes. A total of seven year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-10 years. There are quite a few Black Crappie under 6", with a decent number between 7" - 11". Very few fish over 11" were present. Even though the average weight was less than average for similar lakes there are still good quality Black Crappie in Pelican Lake. There are good numbers of Black Crappie providing good fishing opportunities. Bluegill catch rate of 2.3 fish per net, which is less than average for similar lakes. Catch rate was below the management goal of 3.2 fish per net for Pelican Lake. Length ranged from 3.3 to 7.3 inches and the average were 4.7 inches. Mean weight was 0.1 pounds, which is less than average for similar lakes. A total of seven year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-12 years. There are quite a few Bluegill under 6", with a decent number between 6" - 8". Very few fish over 8" were present. Even though Bluegill numbers and the average weight was less than average for similar lakes there are still good quality Bluegill in Pelican Lake. Night electrofishing was used to sample Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass on June 7 and 8, 2022. A total of 205 bass were captured. Largemouth Bass catch rate was 42.9 fish per hour of On-Time, which is greater than the Pelican Lake historic average of 28.6 fish per hour of On-Time. Length ranged from 4.3 to 18.5 inches and the average was 13.3 inches, which was similar to the 2011 and 2016 surveys in Pelican Lake. Largemouth Bass length was above the management goal of total length greater than 14 inches for Pelican Lake. Average weight was 1.6 pounds. A total of 14 year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-22 years. The Largemouth Bass population looks very healthy with good numbers of bass under 14". Also, there are good numbers of Largemouth Bass present between 14" and 20" providing a good quality bass fishing opportunity. Smallmouth Bass catch rate was 19.4 fish per hour of On-Time, which was less than the Pelican Lake historic average of 36.0 fish per hour of On-Time. Length ranged from 4.1 to 17.9 inches and the mean was 11.8 inches, which was less than the 2016 survey (13.0 in.), but greater than the 2011 (10.6 in.), 2007 (8.7 in.), 2006 (7.7 in.), and 2001 (10.5 in.) surveys in Pelican Lake. Smallmouth Bass length was above the management goal of total length grater than 14 inches for Pelican Lake. Average weight was 1.2 pounds. A total of 12 year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-17 years. The Smallmouth Bass population looks very healthy with good numbers of bass under 14". Also, there are good numbers of Smallmouth Bass present between 14" and 20" providing a good quality bass fishing opportunity. Northern Pike catch rate was 15.4 fish per net, which was well above the average for similar lakes. Catch rate was above the management goal of 11.1 fish per net for Pelican Lake. Length ranged from 9.2 to 28.9 inches, with an average of 20.2 inches. Northern Pike length was below the management goal of an mean length greater than 21 inches for Pelican Lake. Mean weight was 1.8 pounds, which was less than the expected range for this lake type. A total of seven year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 1-7 years. There are quite a few Northern Pike under 22" inches and in the 22"-26" slot in Pelican Lake, with a few above 26" inches. Some Northern Pike sampled were a bit skinny for their length. There are good numbers of Northern Pike providing good fishing opportunities. Walleye catch rate was 6.8 fish per net the highest it has ever been on Pelican Lake. Catch rate was well above the management goal of 3.0 fish per net. for Pelican Lake. Average length in the sample was 17.1 inches with a range from 12.0 to 26.3. Average weight was 1.9 pounds, which was well above the average range for similar lakes. A total of 10 year-classes were present, and ages ranged from 1-13 years. Overall, the Walleye population in Pelican Lake looks very healthy. There are good numbers of 14" - 20" Walleyes present with the potential of catching a Walleye over 26". Yellow Perch catch rate was 14.9 fish per net is greater than the average for similar lakes. Length ranged from 4.8 to 12.1 inches and the average was 6.3 inches. Average weight was 0.1 pounds, which is less than average for similar lakes.

Pelican is a 10,945 acre lake located west of Highway 53 at Orr, MN. Slightly over half (54%) of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. Bass, panfish, northern pike, and yellow perch dominate the sport-fish community. Special regulations protecting northern pike (24 to 38 inches) and largemouth and smallmouth bass (14 to 20 inches) were enacted in the spring of 1998 for a period of 10 years. The regulations were implemented to address concerns about declining northern pike quality and to protect the high quality bass fishery that was present. The northern pike regulation was modified in 2001; fish from 24 to 32 inches were protected. In 2008, the regulations were reviewed and the decision was to continue for an additional 10-year trial period. The bass regulation remained the same and the northern pike regulation was modified to match similar lakes in Minnesota (24 to 36 inches protected). Most species have increased in abundance during the last 20 years. Generally, size and growth for all species has been maintained or improved during this time. Black crappie trap-net abundance greatly exceeded the normal range for this lake type and was the third highest level ever observed in Pelican Lake. Length in trap nets ranged from 3.5 to 11.8 inches and the mean was 7.4. Many year-classes were represented and age ranged from 2 to 11. Several strong year-classes were present which should provide good fishing and consistent spawning for years. Bluegill trap-net abundance was within the normal range for Pelican Lake. Length in trap nets ranged from 3.4 to 8.7 inches. Six year-classes were represented and age ranged from 2 to 8. The strongest year-classes were in 2011, 2012, and 2014; which should provide good fishing and consistent spawning for years. Night electrofishing was used to sample largemouth and smallmouth bass on June 1 and 2, 2016. A total of 118 bass were captured. Largemouth bass were captured at a rate of 21.32 per hour of on-time, which was similar to the level observed during the previous investigation. The highest level ever recorded was 54.0 fish per hour of on-time, which occurred in the 2007 investigation. In 2016, length ranged from 5.8 to 18.9 inches and the mean was 13.4. The mean length in 2016 was similar to 2011 (14.2 inches) but much greater than the three sampling events before 2011 (10.9 inches in 2007, 10.1 inches in 2006, and 10.4 inches in 2001). Smallmouth bass were captured at a rate of 26.15 per hour of on-time, which was a dramatic decline from the record catch of 64.4 per hour of on-time observed in the 2007 survey and the lowest level observed since 2001. Length ranged from 4.1-19.5 inches. The mean lenth was 13.0 inches, which was greater than the four most recent sampling events (10.6 inches in 2011, 8.7 inches in 2007, 7.7 inches in 2006, and 10.5 inches in 2001). Northern pike gill-net abundance was 11.9 fish/set, which was above the mean of 10.0 fish/set from 1959-2001 and well above the expected range for this lake type. In 2016, length ranged from 11.7 to 28.6 inches; 24.5 percent of northern pike were equal to or greater than 24.0 inches. Size has increased since the experimental regulations were enacted in 1998; the mean was 21.6 inches in 2016, compared to a mean of 18.3 in 1995. Growth appears to not have suffered, the rate was the similar in 2016 and 1995. Walleye abundance was low for this lake type, which was consistent with what has been observed historically in Pelican Lake. However, although low, abundance in 2016 was the third highest level ever observed in Pelican Lake. The highest level was recorded in the previous investigation (2012). In 2016, mean length in the sample was 15.8 inches with a range from 7.9 to 27.8. Mean weight was 1.93 pounds, which was above the expected range for this lake type. Five year-classes were present and age ranged from 1-22 years. Age-2 fish represented 50 percent of sample and age-6 fish represented 31 percent. Growth rate was higher than the average observed in other area lakes. Yellow perch abundance was over six times greater than the expected range for this lake type. Fortunately, sizes are present that are attractive to anglers. The size range included fish up to 12.2 inches.

Pelican Lake is an 11,546 acre lake in St. Louis County. The town of Orr, MN lies on the east end of the lake. Special regulations were implemented for Pelican Lake in 1998 which designated a protected slot for Northern Pike and Black Bass (Smallmouth and Largemouth). Several revisions of the special regulations and numerous surveys have been completed since that time to aid in the review of the protected slots. A special assessment targeting Northern Pike in the spring of 2016 was completed to add to the information used to evaluate the effect of these regulations on the Northern Pike population in Pelican Lake. A total of 59 trap net sets were completed at 25 sites in Pelican Lake from April 19 to April 25, 2016. A sample of 142 Northern Pike were measured, weighed, and inspected for sex before being released. The average weight was 1.75 pounds, and the average length was 19.6 inches. The largest Northern Pike sampled was 33.4 inches, and only 15 (10.6%) were greater than 24 inches in length. Of the 141 fish that were examined for sex, 59 were female (41.8%), 37 were male (26.2%), and 45 were unknown (31.9%).

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

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

Pelican has a maximum depth of 38 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pelican is from 2022.

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