Pickerel Lake Fishing near Perham, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Pickerel Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The country here is mixed forest. About 833 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The outline measures near 6.2 miles, so local knowledge counts. Size puts it in the front rank of our Otter Tail County list. Perham is the closest place, 16 miles off. The big place round here is Fargo, 56 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  The basin drops to a measured 93 feet. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Pickerel Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 6°F for January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Pickerel Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Round Lake, 1.7 miles out. Check the position at Pickerel Lake before loading the car.