Crooked

St. Louis County

Near Brookston

DOW: 69070300

Northern PikeExcellent · 75Largemouth BassGood · 50Black CrappieAverage · 26

A 99-acre lake near Brookston in St. Louis County — best known for pike and bass. Last surveyed 1993.

Fish Species (11)

Northern Pike

Excellent · 75

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

25.0"

Avg Weight

4.95 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 1.3–5.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike58% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 42%Largest sampled 37"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	1.50	25.0"	4.95 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 7, 1993	0.33	25.0"	6.97 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

15.0"

Avg Weight

2.44 lbs

Catch rate: 0.44 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.44	15.0"	2.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Average · 26

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.6"

Avg Weight

0.29 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per trap net · typical 1.6–6.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie0% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	1.50	7.6"	-	Survey seining
Sep 7, 1993	2.33	7.6"	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 7, 1993	3.33	7.6"	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Poor · 24

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.26 lbs

Catch rate: 3.6 per trap net · typical 4.3–34.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill4% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 96%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	2.67	6.3"	0.22 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 7, 1993	3.56	6.3"	0.26 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Poor · 23

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.4"

Avg Weight

0.12 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per gill net · typical 0.5–7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch0% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.22	5.4"	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 7, 1993	1.00	5.4"	0.03 lbs	Survey seining
Sep 7, 1993	0.67	5.4"	0.12 lbs	Standard gill nets

Green Sunfish

Poor · 18

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.0"

Avg Weight

0.11 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 0.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.11	6.0"	0.11 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 7, 1993	0.17	6.0"	0.28 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.3"

Avg Weight

0.19 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.50	5.3"	0.19 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (4)

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

Brown Bullhead

Excellent · 91

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

1.23 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	3.33	10.0"	1.23 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 7, 1993	0.67	10.0"	1.07 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Good · 63

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.4"

Avg Weight

4.84 lbs

Catch rate: 1.2 per gill net · typical 1.2–4.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	1.17	17.4"	4.84 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 7, 1993	0.22	17.4"	5.80 lbs	Standard trap nets

Golden Shiner

Good · 54

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3–4.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.33	5.0"	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

Iowa Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Sep 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.5 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1993	0.50	-	-	Survey seining

See the best northern pike lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

September 7, 1993From results of the 1993 lake survey, primary predator species within Crooked Lake are northern pike and largemouth bass, while prey species include p…

From results of the 1993 lake survey, primary predator species within Crooked Lake are northern pike and largemouth bass, while prey species include panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish and black crappie), yellow perch, white sucker and golden shiner. Northern pike were sampled at a rate of 1.5 per gillnet lift. Northern pike mean length was 25.4 inches while growth rate was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Although only four adult largemouth bass were documented in the 1993 survey it is speculated their abundance is higher this would indicate. Panfish trapnet catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) was below 4.0 per lift for all species. Mean lenth for black crappie and bluegill was 8.2 and 7.0 inches, respectively. Black crappie growth rate was average while bluegill growth rate was fast compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Brown bullhead were also documented from the 1993 survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Crooked?

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

Is there public access at Crooked?

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

How deep is Crooked?

Crooked has a maximum depth of 35 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Crooked last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crooked is from 1993. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Crooked have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Crooked?

No — Crooked has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.