Little Pickerel Lake Fishing near Crosslake, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Crow Wing County entry here is Little Pickerel Lake, in Minnesota. This is rolling bush ground. It covers about 24 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Crow Wing County are larger. Crosslake is the closest place, 5.3 miles off. Breezy Point is 12 miles and Pequot Lakes 15 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Little Pickerel Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Little Pickerel Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 7°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Little Pickerel Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Pickerel Lake is 0.7 miles off. Where Little Pickerel Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.