Pelican River

Pelican Lake is a significant northern Minnesota fishing and tourist destination. It is famous for bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike fishing and is one of the state's most popular ice-fishing lakes.A volunteer catch-and-release program is sponsored by the Orr-Pelican Lake Resort Association and the Department of Natural Resources. The program encourages the release of large fish. Additionally, the state has imposed innovative slot-size limits for northern pike and bass to improve size structure on pike and to maintain the existing quality of largemouth. This will also increase the availability of trophy fish. Be sure to check local regulations.

Yellow perch and a variety of minnow species are important. Additionally, white sucker and juvenile panfish add to the excellent forage base div-ersity. Rusty crayfish are present.

During the spring, most fish in Pelican Lake look for newly developing weed growth and the warmest water temperatures. On Pelican Lake that could be anywhere. Emergent vegetation along the shoreline and creek inlets will attract a lot of spawning fish.