Fishing

Crappies are among the first panfish to become active in spring, typically spawning just before Memorial Day on rock piles, where they readily feed on crappie minnows. The best artificial baits include road runners, beetle spins, and rubber minnows.

After spawning, crappies move into dense cabbage weed beds across Pelican Lake’s vast waters. Black crappies are known to school in large numbers, making the lake an ideal habitat. During summer, they are most easily caught using moving artificial baits like beetle spins and road runners.

By early August, crappies start schooling in deeper waters, suspending throughout the winter. In early fall, the best method is jigging just off the bottom at around 25 feet using a Swedish Pimple with a crappie minnow.

Average depth: 9' | Average size: 10" | Possession limit: 10

Hotspots: Try the rock pile north of Midway Island in early season with a beetle spin or north of Bald Island in late summer/fall for jigging.

Bass fishing in Pelican Lake, Orr, MN, is action-packed, with largemouth and smallmouth bass averaging 3.5 lbs. The slot limit (14"-20") protects larger breeders, allowing only one over 20” to be kept. Bass thrive in shallow, weedy shorelines, especially where the water warms early in the season. Mornings are prime for topwater action around logs, pencil reeds, and lily pads.

These hard-hitting fighters bite on live bait (leeches, crawlers), bobber rigs, spinners, topwater lures, and Senko rubber worms. Both largemouth and smallmouth populations are well-balanced, making every bite a surprise!

Average depth: 6' | Average size: 16" | Possession limit: 6

Hotspots: Target the south side of Big Bailey Island in early to mid-summer using spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and live bait along shorelines and rock piles. In mid-to-late summer, fish the stumps on the west end with topwater lures or Senko worms.

Walleye fishing in Pelican Lake, Orr, MN, can be incredibly rewarding with the right approach. Found mostly in deeper waters, walleyes can be jigged off points and reefs or trolled/drifted early in the season over the lake’s expansive flats. Unlike many lakes, Pelican has no slot limit, making it a prime destination for anglers looking to catch and keep quality fish.

Average depth: 12' | Average size: 22" | Possession limit: 6

Hotspots: Troll the west side of Bald Island all season using a 1 oz bottom bouncer with a 3' spinning Lindy rig. Adding a float to the rig helps keep weeds off. Fish around 15' deep with leeches, drifting or trolling at 1 mph for the best results.

Northern pike fishing kicks off early on Pelican Lake, Orr, MN, thanks to its weed-rich habitat. Even when other fish aren’t biting, pike are always active, making it easy to reach your limit. They can be found throughout the lake, but the best method is trolling with a big spoon or casting spinnerbaits around rock reefs and weed lines. Their feeding habits remain consistent all season, offering reliable action for anglers.

Average depth: 8' | Average size: 24" | Possession limit: 10
Slot limit: 22"-26" (must release); can keep 2 over 26"

Hotspots: Early season, cast spinnerbaits near rock marker buoys. Mid to late season, troll the weed line south of Strand Island using a spoon or Rapala for the best results.

Spawning in early to mid-June, bluegills are most aggressive during this time, biting best on small live bait like wax worms, leeches, and nightcrawler pieces. They form large spawning beds in shallow sandy shorelines, creating fast-paced, non-stop action once you locate them. As summer progresses, their activity slows slightly, but they remain easy to catch in shallow waters.

Average depth: 6' | Average size: 8" | Possession limit: 10

Hotspots: Try State Rock Point in Susan Bay during early/mid-summer—fish the point and rock pile with live bait under a bobber or a road runner. In late summer/fall, target Johnson Point on the South Shore using the same setup in 6 feet of water.