Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 15, 2013
Pickeral Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pickeral Lake average 27.50 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–12 inches. In Freeborn County, Minnesota, Pickeral Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 1.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Stocking at Pickeral Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pickeral Lake average 27.50 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–12 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pickeral Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 332.62 | 0.21 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 118.50 | — |
| Common Carp | 50.30 | 1.8 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.50 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.61 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.52 | 0.38 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2013-07-15 survey
Pickeral Lake is a shallow, 620 acre lake in Freeborn County. Mean depth is 3.5 feet and maximum depth is 6 feet. The city of Albert Lea is immediately northeast of Pickeral Lake. A city-owned earthen public access is located on the southeast corner of the lake off highway 69. The lake was reclaimed in fall of 2009…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickeral Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PickeralFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PickeralFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PickeralPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Pickeral Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pickeral Lake average 27.50 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–12 inches. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Pickeral Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Pickeral Lake is dated July 15, 2013. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Pickeral Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Pickeral Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Pickeral Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pickeral Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Pickeral Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Pickeral Lake
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