Pelican

Pelican Lake is a 337-acre lake located five miles northeast of Avon in Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 46 feet and a small watershed dominated by agriculture (pasture/row crops) and open water. A state-owned public access is located on the northwest side of the lake. Pelican Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike and was last surveyed in 2016. Water clarity has always been good on the lake (10-year average - 13 feet) and was 17 feet on July 10th. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish to 24 feet. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation was last surveyed in 2016, and the primary species present were cattail and white waterlily. Walleye numbers were similar to 2016 and remain within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Pelican Lake. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked by DNR for many years with supplemental stocking taking place by the lake association during years that DNR does not stock. Walleye lengths ranged from 18.4 to 24.5 inches with an average length and weight of 20.3 inches and 2.9 pounds. Growth is average in the lake with Walleye taking about six years to reach 20 inches. All Walleye sampled in 2023 were longer than 15 inches with 35% being longer than 20 inches, indicating that the size structure is skewed towards larger individuals and that recent stockings may not have been successful. Northern Pike catches have been high in Pelican Lake for years. While the catch in 2023 was the lowest on record and pike numbers appear to have decreased in relation to historic numbers, they are still at the high end of what we would expect to see for lakes similar to Pelican Lake. Most pike were small, ranging in length from 14.6 to 34.7 inches with an average length and weight of 19.5 inches and 1.7 pounds. Only 21% of the Northern Pike sampled were longer than 21 inches and 9% were longer than 26 inches. Anglers should expect to catch ample numbers of small pike ( 26 inches) fish. Largemouth Bass were sampled on May 25th by daytime electrofishing. The catch rate of 42.2/hour was less than half the catch observed in 2016 and was lower than the Sauk Rapids Area daytime average of 52/hr. Lengths ranged from 6.5 to 18.0 inches with an average length of 12.0 inches. Fifty-three percent of Largemouth Bass were longer than 12 inches and 19% were longer than 15 inches. While the bass numbers appear to be down, the size structure is still in good shape and anglers have a good chance at catching a larger fish (> 15 inches). The Bluegill catch was lower than 2016, but was similar to 2010 and within the expected range for lake class. Lengths ranged from 3.1 to 9.2 inches with an average length of 5.8 inches. While the Bluegill catch was low, anglers can expect to find a few nicer Bluegills roaming around the lake. Black Crappie numbers have always been low and catches in 2023 were no different. Lengths ranged from 7.0 to 13.6 inches with an average length of 10.4. While the crappie numbers are low, anglers may run into a few larger crappie (> 10 inches) during certain times of the year. No Yellow Perch were captured in 2023 after only one was captured in 2016 and two were captured in 2010. Perch abundance is likely limited due to the high Northern Pike abundance and to a lesser degree, increasing Walleye numbers. Other species captured in 2023 included: Black, Brown, and Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Hybrid Sunfish, and Pumpkinseed.

Pelican Lake is a 337 acre lake located three miles north of Avon in Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 46 feet and a small watershed dominated by pasture, row crops, and open water. A DNR public access is located on the northwest side of the lake. Pelican Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike and was last surveyed in 2010. Anglers can expect good fishing for Walleye, smaller Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation was common along shore in early July, primarily cattail and white waterlily. Submerged vegetation was not surveyed, but northern watermilfoil, chara, and coontail were the most common species found in 2010. Water clarity was excellent; Secchi depth was 14 feet on July 5 and MPCA data show a summer average of 13 feet over the last ten years. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish down to 22 feet in early July. Walleye numbers were lower than 2010, but average for lakes similar to Pelican. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked for many years and after a low catch in the 2000 survey, the lake association stocked high numbers of Walleye fingerlings in addition to DNR stocking. This likely accounts for the high catch rate in 2010 and the lower result in 2016 after the lake association reduced their stocking. Walleye lengths in 2016 ranged from 9.8 to 28.3 inches with an average length and weight of 18.7 inches and 1.8 pounds. Most Walleye were between 2 and 5 years old and growth was fast, reaching 17 inches in 3 years. Increased stocking may boost Walleye abundance, but the cost seems prohibitive, especially given the high number of Northern Pike. Northern Pike catches have historically been high. The catch in 2016 was lower than the past two surveys, but still well above the expected range for similar lakes. Pike were small; lengths in 2016 ranged from 15.8 to 33.7 inches with an average length and weight of 19.6 inches and 1.6 pounds. Only 3 percent of Northern Pike were 24 inches or longer, similar to 2010. High numbers of pike likely limit Walleye stocking effectiveness in Pelican Lake. Largemouth Bass were sampled on May 26 by daytime electrofishing and bass numbers were high. The catch rate of 119.6/hour was almost three times the Sauk Rapids area daytime average of 43.3/hour and similar to 2010 results, but bass size was larger in 2016. Lengths in 2016 ranged from 5.9 to 17.6 inches with an average length of 12.9 inches. Of catchable size fish (>8 inches), 25% were 15 inches or longer. Bluegill numbers were higher than in 2010, but within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Pelican. Lengths ranged from 3.3 to 7.8 inches with an average length of 4.8 inches. Black Crappie numbers were low, but also within the expected range for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 4.1 to 11.9 inches with a mean length of 7.0 inches. Surveys in late summer likely under represent panfish abundance and size; netting near shore around spawning time would be more effective to assess Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. Only one Yellow Perch was captured in 2016 and two in 2010; perch abundance is likely limited by high Northern Pike numbers. Other species captured in 2016 included: Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Pumpkinseed. An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) survey was also conducted on Pelican Lake; results are summarized in a separate report.

Pelican Lake is a 337-acre recreational development lake located a half mile southwest of the city of St. Anna in central Stearns County. The lake has good water quality with a maximum depth of 46 feet, secchi disk reading of 13.5 feet and adequate dissolved oxygen (greater than 3ppm) down to 24 feet. Pelican Lake has a public access located along the northwest side of the lake and is a popular lake for all types of recreational use. The Pelican Lake watershed is approximately 2,000 acres and consists of 60% agricultural/pasture, 21% marsh, 10% forest, 6% residential, and 3% grassland. This was the first survey since 2000. In 2010, the Division of Ecological and Water Resources conducted a point intercept plant survey of Pelican Lake. The aquatic plant community is diverse with 30 species observed including four - emergent, three - floating-leaved and 23 submerged and free-floating plants. Yellow water lily was the most common floating-leaf plant and occurred in 10% of the shallow (0-5 feet) water sites. Submerged plants were found growing to a maximum depth of 20 feet. Northern watermilfoil was the most common submerged species and occurred in 51% of the survey sites. Other species that were found in at least 20% of the sites included: muskgrass, coontail, star duckweed, flat-stemmed pondweed, narrow-leaved pondweed, and Canada waterweed. Curled pondweed was surveyed on May 28, 2010 by DNR Fisheries and was found growing at or near the surface on less than 1% of lake surface area. Pelican Lake has been stocked with walleye since 1945, however since 1980; the DNR has stocked walleye fingerlings every other year at a rate of 0.5 lbs/littoral acre. In 2003, the Pelican Lake Association started stocking additional walleye fingerlings annually supplementing the DNR stocking. Since 2003, Pelican Lake has been stocked annually at a rate of 2.5 lbs/littoral acre, which is five times the average stocking rate for Montrose Area lakes. The catch of walleye (6.8/gill net) increased significantly from 2000 (1.5/gill net) is above the expected values for similar lakes. Walleye ranged in length from 7 - 26 inches with a mean length and weight of 17 inches and 1.8 pounds. Growth of female walleye was faster than the statewide average reaching 15 inches by age 3. It appears that the supplemental stocking by the lake association is contributing to the walleye fishery and in the next couple of years; anglers might expect moderate success for walleye as the 2008 year class represented 51% of the ageing sample and will be of harvestable size. The catch rate of northern pike in 2010 (25.2/gill net) was less than 2000 (34.1/gill net), but still above the expected values for similar lakes. Northern pike abundance has been high and above expected values since 1982. Northern pike ranged in length from 11 - 29.5 inches with a mean length and weight of 19 inches and 1.4 pounds. Only 4% of the northern pike sampled were longer than 24 inches and no northern pike longer than 30 inches were sampled. Growth of female northern pike was faster than the statewide average through age 4, whereas growth of male northern pike was similar to the statewide average. Female northern pike reached 22 inches in four years, whereas males reached 20 inches in the same length of time. No male northern pike older than age 4 were sampled. Due to the high number of small northern pike, anglers are encouraged to harvest smaller pike (less than24 inches) and release the medium to large pike (greater than 24 inches). Largemouth bass were sampled by daytime electrofishing on May 10, 2010. A total of 103 largemouth bass were captured in 0.99 hours of electrofishing for a catch rate of 104.6 fish/hour. This was greater than that reported in 2000 (27.4 fish/hour, night time). Largemouth bass ranged in length from 5 - 17 inches and averaged 12 inches and one pound. Forty-seven percent of the bass sampled were larger than 12 inches and 13% were larger than 15 inches. Anglers might expect good fishing for bass 12 - 15 inches with an occasional fish larger than 15 inches. The gill net catch of yellow perch (0.2/gill net) was similar to 2000 (0.3/gill net) and below expected values for similar lakes. Yellow perch abundance has been low since 1982, the same year that northern pike abundance started to increase. Pelican Lake exhibits a typical pattern similar to many area lakes where high northern pike abundance equates to low yellow perch abundance and reduced walleye stocking success. Bluegill (9.7/trap net) catches were lower than 2000 (29.8/trap net) and below expected values for similar lakes. Bluegill ranged in length from 3 - 8 inches with an average length of six inches. Growth of bluegill was similar to the statewide average taking 5 - 6 years to reach seven inches. Historically, the bluegill population has been abundant and small. The catch of black crappie (0.2/trap net) was below the expected values for similar lakes. Only two black crappies were sampled during the survey. Historically, black crappie abundance has been low. The highest black crappie catch was 0.3/trap net in 1982. Four sensitive species were collected during the seining survey. Those species included: banded killifish and blackchin, blacknose, and pugnose shiners. These species are highly sensitive to habitat degradation. Other species sampled in low abundance during the survey included: bluntnose minnow, bowfin (dogfish), brook silverside, central mudminnow, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, Johnny darter, pumpkinseed sunfish, and yellow bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike 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 46 feet and a mean depth of 17.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pelican is from 2023.

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.