Fishing Pickerel Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Pickerel Lake lies in Otter Tail County, in Minnesota. The bank is 1,322 feet above sea level. With some 64 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 1.6 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The closest town, New York Mills, is 13 miles away. Perham is 14 miles away, with Parkers Prairie at 20 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Otter Tail County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Pickerel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 6°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Pickerel Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Round Lake, 1.1 miles out. Confirm access to Pickerel Lake locally before you travel.