Pickerel

Pickerel Lake is a small (40 acres) but deep (36 feet) lake located off the Bear Head Lake State Park Road six miles east of Soudan. The lake is clear and relatively unproductive. There are two small inlets and the outlet flows into Armstrong Lake to the north. There is no public access on Pickerel Lake however, approximately 70% of the shoreline in in public ownership (county tax forfeit). Five species of fish were captured during the 2012 investigation; northern pike, bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Northern pike abundance (5.5/gill net) was higher than in 1976, the only previous assessment on Pickerel Lake. Pike lengths ranged from 12.9 to 29.1 inches with an average of 21.8 inches. Growth rates exceeded Area standards. Bluegill abundance (15.0/trap net) exceeded the median of all lakes in the same classification as Pickerel. No bluegill were present at the time of the previous assessment in 1976. Bluegill in the 2012 assessement were small ranging from 3.4 to 7.9 inches and averaging 5.1 inches. Growth rates were extremely slow. A small number of largemouth bass were also caught during the 2012 assessment. These bass ranged from 5.7 to 12.4 inches. Largemouth were not present during the 1976 assessment. Only one walleye was caught in 2012. A low number were also present in 1976. Pickerel Lake was stocked with small walleye fingerlings in 1974 and 1977 however, it is not known if this stocking was successful in creating a population or if walleye arrived in Pickerel Lake by some other means.

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

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

Pickerel has a maximum depth of 57 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pickerel is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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

No — Pickerel has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.