Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 143.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.1 ft
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 143 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Pickerel Lake is a 143-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Pickerel Lake ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pickerel Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickerel Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Pickerel Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 143 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pickerel Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 41.79 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 33.02 | 0.14 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 22.61 | 0.22 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.26 | 0.67 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.97 | 0.29 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.79 | 0.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Hybrid Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-08 survey
Pickerel Lake is a 143-acre, lightly developed natural lake located in southern Clearwater County, approximately 25 miles northwest of Park Rapids, MN. Pickerel has a water clarity of 15 feet, a maximum depth of 60 feet, and no inlets or outlets. A small state-owned public water access is located on the southeastern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickerel Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PickerelFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pickerel (1201)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PickerelPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.459 m/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pickerel Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 143.43 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Pickerel Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 143.43 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pickerel Lake is located in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
Explore Pickerel Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Clearwater County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pickerel Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX20 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder