Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County Fishing
St. Louis County and Lake County, 10,360 acres, 165 feet deep.
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Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County, the Minnesota rundown
LakeFinder puts Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County, a lake in St. Louis County and Lake County, at 10,360 acres. Maximum depth is 165 feet, with an average of 37 feet. The littoral zone, water under 15 feet, takes in 1,898 acres (18%). Winton is the nearest city on the Census list, roughly 18 miles off. The DNR fisheries office in Tower manages it. It falls under the Canada-Minnesota border water regulations.
The species list from DNR surveys starts with walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, smallmouth bass and cisco. No access point is mapped, though LakeFinder notes 1 access open to public use. The last DNR population assessment ran on July 9, 2007. Walleye catch rates sat within normal: 6.73 per gill net against 0.6-9.7.
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The population assessment of July 9, 2007 supplied these counts; the DNR normal range shows what similar lakes produce.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 101 | 6.73 | 0.6-9.7 | 1.1 | 1.1-3.3 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 73 | 4.87 | 0.3-1.0 | 3.11 | 2.7-5.3 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 21 | 1.4 | 0.3-2.8 | 0.12 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 25 | 1.67 | 0.63 | ||
| Smallmouth bass | Standard gill nets | 19 | 1.27 | 0.3-2.2 | 1.85 | 0.7-1.4 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 47 | 3.13 | 1.4-17.4 | 0.15 | 0.1-0.7 |
| Lake whitefish | Standard gill nets | 3 | 0.2 | 1.1-9.3 | 2.21 | 1.3-2.3 |
| Sauger | Standard gill nets | 1 | 0.07 | 2.22 | ||
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 22 | 1.47 | 0.4-5.1 | 0.23 | 0.2-0.4 |
| Burbot | Standard gill nets | 3 | 0.2 | 0.3-1.3 | 1.01 | 0.7-1.9 |
Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County gill net counts
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
Status of the fishery on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
“Crooked Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 1, which consists of 34 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are large, very deep, have irregular shoreline shapes, and have soft (unmineralized) and clear water.”
“Crooked Lake is larger than most of the lakes in this lake class.”
“Crooked Lake was thermally stratified on 7/9/2007 with surface temperatures about 72 F and bottom temperatures of 46 F in Friday and Sunday bays, and 41 F in Thursday Bay.”
“Adequate oxygen for cold-water fish species (more than 5 ppm) was present to near the bottom in all three basins.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Crooked Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Landings around Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Accesses on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County known to LakeFinder but not mapped: US Forest Service (portage).
Water accesses near Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
- Angleworm Lake AccessAngleworm, 8 miles southwest
- Stuart River AccessStuart River, 10 miles southwest
- Ed Shave Lake AccessEd Shave, 10 miles southwest
- Picket Lake, Mudro Lake AccessPicket, 11 miles south
- Big Lake Access near WintonBig, 11 miles southwest
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County basin shape
Volunteers and DNR staff have logged 5 Secchi readings on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County since 2007.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
Fish found in Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Every species shown for Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County turned up in a DNR survey or holds a record here.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Limits that apply on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Statewide inland limits are the whole rule set on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County.
Canada-Minnesota season table for Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
| Species | Area | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | All Canada-Minnesota border waters except exceptions below | 6 combined total (only 1 over 20" in possession) | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Lake of the Woods and tributaries from mouth to upstream boundaries listed on p. 67 | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Four Mile Bay (southeast bay of Lake of the Woods) | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – April 14 each year |
| Walleye and sauger | Four Mile Bay (southeast bay of Lake of the Woods) | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Namakan, Sand Point and Little Vermilion lakes | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26") | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy Lake | 8 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26") | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy River (mouth to the dam at International Falls and all tributaries from the mouth to the upstream boundaries liste | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – April 14 each year |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy River (mouth to the dam at International Falls and tributaries) | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Saganaga Lake | 3 (only 1 walleye over 20") | May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Northern pike | All Canada-Minnesota border waters except exceptions below | 3 (only 1 over 30" in possession) | Continuous |
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession, all from 30-40" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 northern pike over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County sits in the Northeast Zone by map position, which sets the pike and bass rows.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Sizing up Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County against nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County | 10,360 | 165 | 0 | 6.73 | |
| Bullet Lake | 4 miles south | 42 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Sinneeg Lake | 4 miles southwest | 160 | 32 | 0 | 15.25 |
| Moosecamp Lake | 4 miles south | 171 | 16 | 0 | 3.5 |
| Bear Trap Lake | 4 miles southwest | 121 | 38 | 0 | 11 |
| Gun Lake near Winton, St. Louis County, 341 acres | 4 miles south | 341 | 57 | 0 | 6.5 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
Beyond the shore of Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
More Minnesota lakes near Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
- Bullet Lake4 miles south
- Sinneeg Lake4 miles southwest
- Moosecamp Lake4 miles south
- Bear Trap Lake4 miles southwest
- Gun Lake near Winton, St. Louis County, 341 acres4 miles south
Minnow buckets filled near Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
- Williams and Hall Outfitterssporting goods store, Ely, 19 miles
- Spirit of the Wildernessfarm and general store with fishing supplies, Ely, 19 miles
- Voyageur North Outfitterssporting goods store, Ely, 19 miles
- Skube's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ely, 19 miles
- The Great Outdoorssporting goods store, Ely, 19 miles
- Piragis Outfitterssporting goods store, Ely, 20 miles
Towns within an easy drive of Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
- Winton17 miles
- Ely19 miles
- Soudan33 miles
Counties that Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County reaches
- St. Louis Countyseat: Duluth
- Lake Countyseat: Two Harbors
Four Piscifun picks for Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
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Fish to look for at Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Handy answers on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Which DNR office covers Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
In St. Louis County and Lake County, managed from the Tower fisheries office, about 18 miles from Winton.
What is the maximum depth of Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
The DNR record gives 10,360 acres, 165 feet at the deepest.
Is there a boat launch on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
No point in the DNR access layer; 1 access in LakeFinder.
Which species has the DNR recorded in Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
Expect walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, smallmouth bass, cisco and lake whitefish.
When did the DNR last survey Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
July 9, 2007, in a population assessment. walleye ran 6.73 per gill net.
Are there size limits on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
No special rule; statewide rows in the Northeast Zone.
Do kids need a license on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
On border water a Minnesota license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) works under the shared rules; on Canadian water the Canadian portion needs a Canadian license.
How clear is Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
Average clarity: 9.2 feet.
Where are minnows sold near Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County?
Drive 19 miles to reach Williams and Hall Outfitters.
Plan a lake day on Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County
Minnesota license costs and limits are one click away.