Pelican Lake, St. Louis County Fishing
St. Louis County, 11,546 acres, 38 feet deep.
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First look at Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
The DNR lists Pelican Lake, St. Louis County as a lake covering 11,546 acres in St. Louis County. Soundings put the deepest water at 38 feet, with an average of 7.7 feet. About 94% of the lake, 10,837 acres, is under 15 feet deep. About 4 miles separate the lake from Orr. Surveys come from the International Falls area fisheries office.
DNR surveys have recorded walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. Anglers launch from 6 public water accesses. The newest catch data come from a standard survey on June 6, 2022. Walleye numbers, 6.75 per gill net, landed within the range the DNR expects (3.1-9.8). The DNR ice-out median is April 26 (36 records).
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These rows come from the standard survey on June 6, 2022; the normal range is the DNR range for lakes of the same class.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 81 | 6.75 | 3.1-9.8 | 1.93 | 0.7-1.3 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 7 | 0.39 | 0.3-1.3 | 3.22 | 0.5-1.4 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 185 | 15.42 | 1.2-3.6 | 1.78 | 1.9-3.6 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 18 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 179 | 14.92 | 1.9-7.1 | 0.12 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 16 | 0.89 | 0.4-1.9 | 0.14 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 88 | 7.33 | 0.2-1.4 | 0.15 | 0.2-0.5 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 58 | 3.22 | 1.6-3.3 | 0.19 | 0.2-0.7 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 79 | 6.58 | 0.17 | ||
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 41 | 2.28 | 0.8-8.7 | 0.1 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 5 | 0.42 | 0.2-0.8 | 1.5 | 0.9-1.3 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 2 | 0.11 | 0.1-0.7 | 2.74 | 0.1-1.0 |
Gill net totals, Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
The Pelican Lake, St. Louis County fishery in the DNR report
“Pelican is a 11,546-acre, class 7 lake located west of Highway 53 at Orr, MN.”
“Slightly over half (54%) of the lake is littoral area.”
“Centrarchids, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch dominate the sport-fish community.”
“Special regulations protecting Northern Pike (24 to 38 inches) and Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (14 to 20 inches) were enacted in the spring of 1998 for a period of 10 years.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Pelican Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Where trailers back down on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- Pelican Lake, Orr Access2 ramps, 15 trailer stalls, 1 dock, City of Orr
- Pelican Lake (NE) Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, St. Louis County
- Pelican Lake (W) Access near Orr1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Pelican Lake, Co Rd 515 Access1 ramp, 3 trailer stalls, St. Louis County
- Pelican Lake, Co Rd 516 Access1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, St. Louis County
- Pelican Lake, Saunders Bay Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
Accesses a short drive from Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- Moose Lake Access near OrrMoose, 6 miles east
- Pelican River (W) AccessPelican River, 9 miles northeast
- Pelican River (NW) AccessPelican River, 10 miles northeast
- Ash Lake Access near OrrAsh, 11 miles north
- Blackduck Lake AccessBlack Duck, 11 miles northeast
- Little Fork River, Samuelson Park AccessLittle Fork River, 12 miles southwest
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Depth and shape of Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Since 2007, 4 Secchi readings have been recorded on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County.
The earliest ice-out on record for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County came April 2, 2010; the latest, May 16, 2013.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
Pelican Lake, St. Louis County elevation
The Pelican Lake, St. Louis County level history is a DNR volunteer gauge series, not a live feed.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Fish on record for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Species for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County come from DNR survey nets, so small or rare fish may be missing.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Bag and size limits on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Special and experimental regulations on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County:
| Species | Regulation | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass | All from 14-20" must be immediately released. One over 20" allowed in possession. |
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (either 2 northern pike over 26" and none from 22 to 26" or 1 from 22 to 26" and 1 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 |
| 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 |
Map position places Pelican Lake, St. Louis County in the North-central Zone for pike and bass.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Pelican Lake, St. Louis County compared with its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Lake, St. Louis County | 11,546 | 38 | 6 | 6.75 | |
| Gabrielson Lake | 3 miles south | 16 | 18 | 0 | |
| Swan Lake, St. Louis County | 5 miles north | 86 | 11 | 0 | |
| Moose Lake near Orr, St. Louis County, 929 acres | 6 miles east | 929 | 10 | 1 | 7.83 |
| Bell Lake | 7 miles east | 110 | 0 | ||
| Ash Lake, St. Louis County | 11 miles north | 690 | 25 | 1 | 8 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
Close by Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Lakes a short haul from Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- Gabrielson Lake3 miles south
- Swan Lake, St. Louis County5 miles north
- Moose Lake near Orr, St. Louis County, 929 acres6 miles east
- Bell Lake7 miles east
- Ash Lake, St. Louis County11 miles north
Bait counters serving Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- Norman's One Stopfarm and general store with fishing supplies, Orr, 4 miles
- Cold Springs Incfarm and general store with fishing supplies, Orr, 18 miles
- Voyageur Tacklebait and tackle shop, St. Louis, 20 miles
- Timbuktu Marinamarina, Cook, 23 miles
- Handberg's Marinemarine supply store, Crane Lake, 25 miles
Places to bunk near Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- Orr4 miles
- Nett Lake9 miles
- Cook18 miles
Minnesota counties sharing Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
- St. Louis Countyseat: Duluth
Spinning and baitcasting picks for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
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Species in the nets at Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers before you launch on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
Where does Pelican Lake, St. Louis County sit on a Minnesota map?
The lake point falls in St. Louis County, managed from the International Falls fisheries office, about 4 miles from Orr.
What acreage does LakeFinder give Pelican Lake, St. Louis County?
11,546 surface acres, 38 feet at the deepest.
Where is the public access on Pelican Lake, St. Louis County?
The DNR layer lists 6 public accesses; Pelican Lake, Orr Access is a good start.
Is Pelican Lake, St. Louis County a good panfish lake?
walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, per DNR surveys.
Is Pelican Lake, St. Louis County above normal for walleye?
A standard survey on June 6, 2022; walleye ran 6.75 per gill net.
Is Pelican Lake, St. Louis County under experimental regulations?
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: All from 14-20" must be immediately released. One over 20" allowed in possession.
Do I need a Minnesota license for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
When does Pelican Lake, St. Louis County freeze and thaw?
Around April 26 in most years; May 10, 2022 last time.
Where can I buy minnows near Pelican Lake, St. Louis County?
Closest on our list: Norman's One Stop, 4 miles.
Hook up the trailer for Pelican Lake, St. Louis County
The license page lists every Minnesota limit.