Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 107.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 108 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Sherburne County
Pickerel Lake is a 108-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 21 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, Pickerel Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickerel Lake in Sherburne 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 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 61 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pickerel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Average Depth | 5.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 108 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 97% |
| Public Access | No |
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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.01 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.33 | 0.1 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 14.72 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 12.41 | 2.01 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 11.00 | 0.73 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.67 | 0.2 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2007-07-09 survey
Pickerel Lake is a 121-acre lake connected to Long and Round Lakes. The three lakes are located three miles west of Clear Lake in western Sherburne County. Water quality was good with a secchi reading of 11.7 feet and oxygen levels to 14 feet. The lake is heavily developed along the west side but the remainder of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickerel Lake. 1 report 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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.061 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.57 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.31 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 107.9 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Pickerel Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 61 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet and an average depth of 5.4 feet. The lake covers 107.9 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pickerel Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
168 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA168 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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