Velvet

Crow Wing County

Near Cross Lake

DOW: 18028400

WalleyeGood · 67Rock BassGood · 50BluegillAverage · 49

A 167-acre lake near Cross Lake in Crow Wing County — best known for walleye and panfish. Last surveyed 1985.

Fish Species (12)

Walleye

Stocked 2019

Good · 67

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.67 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–3 for a lake like this

Stocked with fingerlings irregularly · 750 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	2.00	-	3.67 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2019	fingerlings	500	20.0	Private citizens and sporting groups
2017	fingerlings	250	10.0	Private citizens and sporting groups

Rock Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.70 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	1.00	-	0.70 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Average · 49

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.12 lbs

Catch rate: 26.7 per trap net · typical 8.3–50.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	2.33	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	26.67	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 47

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 3.7 per trap net · typical 2.8–10.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	0.33	-	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	3.67	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Average · 46

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.12 lbs

Catch rate: 4.0 per gill net · typical 1–4.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	4.00	-	0.12 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	1.67	-	0.26 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Average · 32

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	0.33	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 25

Small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.38 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	2.00	-	0.38 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	2.67	-	0.38 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Poor · 20

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	0.67	-	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Poor · 9

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 2.3 per gill net · typical 4.8–12.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	2.33	-	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	0.33	-	7.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (3)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 68

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.51 lbs

Catch rate: 11.3 per trap net · typical 2.1–10.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	9.00	-	0.54 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 21, 1985	11.33	-	0.51 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 46

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1985

Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	0.33	-	1.00 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 21, 1985	1.00	-	1.00 lbs	Standard gill nets

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 21, 1985	0.67	-	0.35 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 21, 1985	0.67	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Rock Bass

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 21, 1985NORTHERN PIKE ABUNDANCE IS LOW (2.3 GILLNET) BUT A GOOD LENGTH FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION EXISTS AND THE GROWTH RATE IS GOOD. YELLOW BULLHEAD ABUNDANCE IS…

NORTHERN PIKE ABUNDANCE IS LOW (2.3 GILLNET) BUT A GOOD LENGTH FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION EXISTS AND THE GROWTH RATE IS GOOD. YELLOW BULLHEAD ABUNDANCE IS GOOD WITH ALL SIZE CLASSES PRESENT. BLUEGILL ABUNDANCE IS MODERATE, GROWTH RATE SLOW, THE SIZE SMALL AND MAJORITY OF THE BLUEGILLS BELONG TO THE III, IV OR V YEAR CLASS GROUP. LARGEMOUTH BASS ABUNDANCE IS EXCELLENT WITH ALL SIZES PRESENT AND THEY EXHIBIT A SLOW TO GOOD GROWTH RATE. BLACK CRAPPIES ARE PRESENT IN MODERATE NUMBERS WITH GROWTH RATE SLOW AND THE MAJORITY ARE IN THE IV YEAR CLASS GROUP. WALLEYE ARE PRESENT IN LOW TO MODERATE NUMBERS AND EXHIBIT A GOOD GROWTH RATE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Velvet?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Black Crappie in Velvet. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Velvet?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Velvet. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Velvet?

Velvet has a maximum depth of 29 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Velvet last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Velvet is from 1985. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Velvet have any invasive species?

No invasive species are on record for Velvet in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

Are there special fishing regulations on Velvet?

No — Velvet has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide walleye and sauger limit is: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.