Pickerel Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Freeborn County, Minnesota, sits Pickerel Lake. Height above sea level is 1,224 feet. About 578 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. At about 5.1 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is among the larger waters listed here for Freeborn County. Albert Lea at 2.3 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Rochester is 54 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Freeborn County cover common carp, black bullhead and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Pickerel Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 72°F and January near 13°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Pickerel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Mud Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Pickerel Lake.