Pickerel Lake Fishing in Becker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Pickerel Lake, in Becker County. Land around it is pine and birch. It measures about 127 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Roughly 2.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. Park Rapids lies 25 miles from the water. It is 65 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Pickerel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 4°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Pickerel Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Hoot Owl Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Pickerel Lake for certain.