Minnesota · Becker County
Pearl Lake Fishing guide
Pearl Lake covers 280 acres in Becker County, Minnesota, reaching 54 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.3per gill net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2019Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2014Lengths measured · 44 fish
2009Largemouth bassJust a few6per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 18 fish
2024Lengths measured · 222 fish
2019Lengths measured · 31 fish
2014Lengths measured · 31 fish
2009Northern pikeOne of the best around18.7per gill net19"Typical39"Biggest
Lengths measured · 128 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 128 fish
2024Lengths measured · 84 fish
2019Lengths measured · 95 fish
2014Lengths measured · 52 fish
2009BluegillJust a few20.9per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 335 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 335 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1020 fish
2019Lengths measured · 369 fish
2014Lengths measured · 259 fish
2009CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2024Lengths measured · 95 fish
2019Lengths measured · 86 fish
2014Lengths measured · 28 fish
2009Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Pearl Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 54 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 54 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39" | 27" | 16" |
| 2019 | 38" | 24" | 19" |
| 2014 | 26" | 26" | 18" |
| 2009 | 31" | 26" | 20" |
| 2004 | 33" | 27" | 18" |
| 1998 | 30" | 26" | 17" |
| 1993 | 30" | 16" | 14" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,192 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 4,658 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,512 adults |
| 2018 | Walleye | 3,538 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,200 fingerlings · 752 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pearl Lake was conducted on June 27th, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due soft sediments and thick vegetation. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured nine species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish and Blackchin Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Pearl Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Pearl Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Otter Tail River assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Pearl Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Pearl Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Pearl Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Pearl Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Pearl Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sallie Lake · 1,280 ac · 2.1 mi
- Munson Lake · 134 ac · 2.2 mi
- Muskrat Lake · 69 ac · 2.9 mi
- Eunice Lake · 378 ac · 3 mi
- Maud Lake · 517 ac · 3 mi
- Melissa Lake · 1,850 ac · 3.2 mi
- Long Lake · 415 ac · 3.4 mi
- Meadow Lake · 71 ac · 3.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Pearl Lake?
Pearl Lake reaches 54 ft at its deepest point; about 60% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Pearl Lake?
Pearl Lake covers 280 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Pearl Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Pearl Lake average 7.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Pearl Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Pearl Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Pearl Lake have a public access?
Yes. Pearl Lake has one public access site: Pearl Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Pearl Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 39"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Pearl Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pearl Lake in 2024, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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