Little Pelican Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Little Pelican Lake lies in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The surroundings are mixed forest. Roughly 264 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. Size puts it in the front rank of our Crow Wing County list. Breezy Point is the closest town at 2.2 miles. Further out sit Nisswa (4.5 miles) and Pequot Lakes (5.5 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Pelican Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Crow Wing County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Little Pelican Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 8°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Pelican Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Upper Cullen Lake is 2.1 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Little Pelican Lake for certain.