Skip to content

Crooked Lake

Crooked Lake is a lake in Minnesota, near Crow Wing County.

Live lake forecast

Crooked Lake Fishing Weather

National Weather Service
Loading current weather…

Fish species in Crooked Lake

Crooked Lake near 46.3665, -93.9087 is a lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Crooked Lake covers about 358 acres, reaches a recorded 72 feet and holds about 6,200 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Crooked Lake Affect Fishing

Crooked Lake is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.

Fish and Baits at Crooked Lake

Fish reported from Crooked Lake include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, bowfin, brook silverside, brook stickleback, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, cisco, emerald shiner, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, least darter, logperch, mimic shiner, mottled sculpin, northern pike, pugnose shiner, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, weed shiner, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Crooked Lake, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Crooked Lake, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill and pumpkinseed, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Crooked Lake, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Crooked Lake, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Bullheads

For bottom fishing at Crooked Lake, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.

Other Reported Fish

Other choices at Crooked Lake include these plans: work a tough soft plastic or cut bait near weeds and wood for bowfin.

Rock Bass

At Crooked Lake, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

Cisco

For other cold-water fish at Crooked Lake, use a tiny jig or small spoon at the depth where cisco are schooling.

How the Seasons Change Crooked Lake

Spring at Crooked Lake is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer fishing is usually better in cooler, deeper water. Fall at Crooked Lake can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Crooked Lake

On a first trip to Crooked Lake, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

Useful Tackle for Crooked Lake

A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Crooked Lake, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.

Crooked Lake FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 358-acre Crooked Lake?

At Crooked Lake, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.

Should anglers fish the 72-foot deep end of Crooked Lake?

Not every trip. A better place at Crooked Lake is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.

What does the 6,200 acre-foot storage figure mean at Crooked Lake?

At Crooked Lake, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Banded Killifish — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Crappie — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blackchin Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blacknose Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluegill — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluntnose Minnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bowfin — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brook Silverside — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brook Stickleback — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brown Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Central Mudminnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Cisco — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Emerald Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Iowa Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Johnny Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Least Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Logperch — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Mimic Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Mottled Sculpin — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Northern Pike — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Pugnose Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Pumpkinseed — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Rock Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Smallmouth Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Tadpole Madtom — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Walleye — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Weed Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • White Sucker — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

✉Join the Fishing Tips Daily newsletter waiting list

Our newsletter is not sending yet. Leave your email if you would like to hear from us when it launches.

By joining, you agree to receive our newsletter when it launches. To request removal before then, contact us. Read our privacy policy.