Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 240.65 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 241 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Pickerel Lake is a 241-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Pickerel Lake ranks #52 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickerel Lake in Itasca 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.
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Water Temperature
Pickerel Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pickerel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Surface Area | 241 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 22% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
- Deer LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pickerel Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CSH | 23.13 | — |
| Bluegill | 13.55 | 0.27 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.82 | 0.67 lb |
| BNS | 7.44 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 7.17 | 0.14 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 6.60 | 1.77 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
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2018-07-24 survey
Pickerel Lake is a 293-acre lake located 12 miles east of Effie, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. A concrete public access is located off Highway 533 on the western shore of the lake with parking for two vehicles with trailers. Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet and 18% of the lake is 15 feet or less. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickerel Lake. 4 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 (0790)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PickerelFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PickerelPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.115 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.17 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-09 (2017) | 2022-05-14 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-04 (2002) | 2015-11-29 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-14
EPA Impairment Status
Pickerel Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0334-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.91 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #52 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pickerel Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 240.65 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pickerel Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 240.65 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pickerel Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Pickerel Lake thaw?
- Pickerel Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake, Deer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickerel Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA104 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate