Crane Lake

Crane Lake

View in the App
Size
3032ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Crane Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Lake trout
Lake trout
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Rock bass
Rock bass
Sauger
Sauger
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Walleye
Walleye

Crane Lake Overview

Fishing Regulations in Crane Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Location: Including Vermilion Gorge

  • Walleye and Sauger: Combined possession limit six, only four may be walleye. All walleye from 18-26” must be immediately released. One over 26” allowed in possession.

Crane Lake Features

Crane and Sand Point and Little Vermilion Lakes make up the southern portion the chain of lakes that stretch along the International Border between Minnesota and Canada. These lakes are the smallest lakes in the chain, but they are easy to access and a little more manageable then the larger lakes. Crane Lake sits entirely inside the boundaries of Minnesota, while the International Border travels through the middle of Little Vermilion and Sand Point Lakes Visitors to these three lakes not only get fantastic scenery and miles of undeveloped shoreline to look at, they also can find a world class fishery for walleyes, northern pike smallmouth bass and crappie. Secondary species such as sauger, perch, largemouth bass, bluegills and muskies are also available to anglers. Abundant structure can be found throughout the lake. Areas to focus on are rock reefs, weedy bays, points, islands, saddles and areas of current. Visitors can enjoy viewing shear rock cliffs, waterfalls, wildlife and even ancient Indian pictographs etched on rock walls along the Namakan Narrows. The lake is bordered by the Voyageurs National Park along the western side and Quetico Provincial Park along the eastern shoreline. The National Park Service offers campsites with amenities, boat tours and other services to the public. Camping on the lake requires a camping permit. Contact Voyageurs National Park Headquarters at (218)-283-6600 for any questions you might have. Anglers wanting to fish the Canadian waters of Sand Point Lake and Little Vermilion Lake will need to obtain a Remote Access Border Crossing permit, as well as, an Ontario Non-Resident Fishing License. These licenses and permits are obtainable at most ports of entry. Additionally, if you want to fish with live bait while in Canadian waters, you must purchase bait from the Canadian side of the border. Any questions can be directed to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) or by contacting local park offices or by contacting resorts around the lake.
Waterbody poster background

logo

Welcome to onX Fish

Start using onX Fish in Minnesota & Wisconsin today.

Try for Free

Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
3-4 in
Length Range
4 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.33
0Statewide Range74.63

Crane Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Crappie
fish
6-13 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.33
0Statewide Range10.56

Crane Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Lake trout
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Largemouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Muskellunge
fish
21-22 in
Length Range
22 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2021
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Northern pike
fish
18-34 in
Length Range
26 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.83
0Statewide Range19.6

Crane Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-11 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
13.17
0Statewide Range43.55

Crane Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
5-11 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.5
0Statewide Range4.26

Crane Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Sauger
fish
8-16 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3
0Statewide Range37.98

Crane Lake Sauger abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Smallmouth bass
fish
7-20 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
26.49
0Statewide Range80.92

Crane Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
8-24 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
17.67
0Statewide Range16.93

Crane Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App

Nearby Lakes

waterbodys

Dovre Lake

Size: 114 acres

Fish Species: 2

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Little Vermilion Lake

Size: 1227 acres

Fish Species: 11

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Mukooda Lake

Size: 769 acres

Fish Species: 10

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Knute Lake

Size: 12 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Herriman Lake

Size: 46 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Baylis Lake

Size: 65 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Sand Point Lake

Size: 8276 acres

Fish Species: 12

Boat Launch: No