Crooked

Crooked Lake is a 115 acre lake in Anoka County assigned to lake class 30. Primarily managed for Largemouth Bass, a special catch and release only regulation for Bass was implemented in 2002. Walleye and Channel Catfish have been stocked previously but these efforts were discontinued after 2015 since they failed to create a feasible fishery. A winter aeration system to reduce winterkill was installed in 1987. This survey was conducted in July 2021 with gill nets and trap nets. Electrofishing to target Largemouth Bass was conducted in May 2021. The previous Survey was conducted in 2015 with the previous electrofishing effort occurring in 2016. Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing at a rate of 81 fish per hour, the highest catch rate in the lake's history. It is nearly four times as high as the previous electrofishing effort but on par with the next most recent sampling in 1999 of 70.9 fish per hour. Average size was smaller than previous surveys with a mean length of 9.9 inches. This may be due to the large number of particularly small fish that were sampled rather than a lack of larger fish. The largest individual measured 19.5 inches. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 11.5 fish per gill net. This higher than average for similar lakes but is typical relative to the previous survey. Fish size was slightly smaller than previous surveys with a mean length of 22.3 inches. Sizes were fairly well distributed between 15 and 30 inches. Trap nets sampled Black Crappie at a rate of only 0.25 fish per net and gill nets at only 3 fish per net. This rate is low but rates have been relatively low in most previous surveys. The low number of fish sampled makes it impossible to extrapolate any size data to the entire population but the largest fish measured was 8.4 inches. Bluegill were sampled by trap nets at a rate of 40.5 fish per net. This is higher than average for similar lakes but typical of previous surveys. Fish size was also typical relative to previous surveys with a mean length of 5.5 inches. The longest fish sampled was 7.5 inches. Four Channel Catfish with a mean length of 22.4 inches were sampled in this survey. These fish have persisted since the cessation of stocking in 2015 and may still offer a limited angling opportunity. Other species sampled included: Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

Crooked Lake is a 115-acre, class 30 lake in Anoka County primarily managed for Largemouth Bass. A winter aeration system to reduce winterkill was installed in 1987 and a special catch and release only regulation for Largemouth Bass was implemented in 2002, and is still in effect. Crooked lake was sampled by night time boat electrofishing on June 8, 2016 to assess the Largemouth Bass population. Largemouth Bass catch rate was 22.85 fish per hour of on time, suggesting a low to moderate abundance of bass compared to other east metro area lakes. Size structure of bass sampled during this survey was good, 94% of sampled bass were greater than 12 inches in length and 32% of sampled bass were greater than 16 inches. The catch and release regulation appears to have been successful at creating a Largemouth Bass fishery with a moderate density and high quality size structure.

Crooked Lake is a 115 acre class 30 lake in Anoka County primarily managed for Walleye and Channel Catfish. Largemouth Bass are a secondary management species. Walleye fry are currently stocked in the spring of odd numbered years at a rate of 2,000 per littoral acre (172,000 fish), and Channel Catfish yearlings are stocked at a rate of 30 per littoral acre (2,600 fish), also in odd numbered years. A winter aeration system to reduce winterkill was installed in 1987 and stocking of Walleye and Channel Catfish was initiated in 2001. A special catch and release only regulation for Largemouth Bass was implemented in 2002, and is still in effect. Walleyes were sampled at a catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 1.50 fish per net, at the median rate for class 30 lakes. Three Walleyes were sampled, and ranged from 20.79 to 22.22 inches in length. Channel Catfish were sampled at a CPUE of 6.0 fish per gillnet, the highest CPUE for Channel Catfish since stocking was initiated in 2001. The average size Channel Catfish sampled in 2015 was 16.97 inches, with fish up to 22.28 inches observed. Northern Pike were sampled at a CPUE of 10.5 fish per gillnet, above the third quartile for abundance in class 30 lakes. The average size Northern Pike sampled in 2015 was 23 inches long, and the largest was 28.74 inches. Largemouth Bass were sampled at a CPUE of 4.0 fish per gillnet, above the third quartile for abundance for class 30 lakes. The average size Largemouth Bass sampled was 15.22 inches long and the largest was 20 inches. Bluegills were sampled at a CPUE of 36.50 fish per trap net, between the second and third quartiles for class 30 lakes. The average Bluegill sampled in 2015 was 4.88 inches long and the largest was 7.13 inches. Black Crappies were sampled at a CPUE of 0.88 fish per trap net in the 2015 survey, below the first quartile for abundance in class 30 lakes. The average Black Crappie sampled in 2015 was 6.19 inches long and the largest was 8.78 inches.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Green Sunfish, and Channel Catfish in Crooked. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Crooked. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Crooked has a maximum depth of 26 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crooked is from 2021.

Yes — Crooked has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 1 special rule for Crooked, covering largemouth bass. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.