---
type: lake
name: "Pelican Lake"
county: "Pope"
nearest_town: "Long Beach"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 518
max_depth_ft: 34
latitude: 45.64426
longitude: -95.45624
lake_score: 53
dnr_lake_id: "61011100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/pelican-lake
---

# Pelican Lake

Lake in Pope County, Minnesota, near Long Beach

- **Surface Area**: 518 acres
- **Max Depth**: 34 ft
- **Average Depth**: 10 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.4 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 4.9 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 53/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Pelican Lake is a 518-acre lake near Long Beach in Pope County, Minnesota. It reaches 34 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 10 feet, and has roughly 5.4 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 4.9 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 18 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2022.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 6, based on 19 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 18
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2022
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 6
- **Years of record**: 19
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-08
- **Latest**: 2023-04-27

## Nearby Lakes

- [Lake Minnewaska](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-minnewaska) - 1.4 miles, 8,050 acres
- [Lake Ann](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-ann) - 4 miles, 370 acres
- [Malmedal Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/malmedal-lake) - 4.1 miles, 199 acres
- [Lake Reno](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-reno) - 7 miles, 3,809 acres
- [Signalness Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/signalness-lake) - 7.8 miles, 42 acres
- [Nelson Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/nelson-lake) - 8.3 miles, 293 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.64426,-95.45624)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=61011100)
- [All lakes in Pope County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/pelican-lake)*