Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 8, 2024
Species recorded at Pickerel Lake
12 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Pickerel Lake
No stocking record for Pickerel Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
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's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Pickerel Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pickerel Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 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: 2024-07-08 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-08 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 41.79 | 3–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 33.02 | 5–12 in 2024-07-08 | 0.14 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 22.61 | 3–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.22 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.26 | 5–18 in 2024-07-08 | 0.67 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.97 | 4–9 in 2024-07-08 | 0.29 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.79 | 3–7 in 1994-06-27 | 0.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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.
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
Common questions
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Pickerel Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 12 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Pickerel Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Pickerel Lake is dated July 8, 2024. 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 Pickerel Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Pickerel Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Pickerel Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pickerel Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Pickerel Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Pickerel Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Pickerel Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.