Serpent Lake

Crow Wing County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 18009000

DNR records show 17 stocking entries at Serpent Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2025 (4,008 fish).

• Serpent Lake has 17 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2017-2025): walleye (17).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 866,897 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 65 ft; surface area 1,116 acres, 338 littoral acres, 9.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 19.1 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and 5 more.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 21, 2023 (targeted survey).
• Crow Wing County, nearest town Crosby; DNR lake number (DOW) 18009000.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/10/1958 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

² fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Serpent Lake is a 1,057-acre lake located in Crow Wing County. It spans the cities of Crosby on the west shore and Deerwood on the east. A public access is located in the Crosby city park on the west end. Another access is located just north of Deerwood on the east shore. Serpent reaches depths of 65' with 32% of the lake 15' deep or less. Water clarity was good with a secchi disk reading of 21'. Development is heavy along the 8.9 miles of shoreline. A 2009 survey found 31 species of aquatic plants. Protection of aquatic vegetation, especially emergent vegetation, is important for maintaining good water quality. Aquatic vegetation is critical for fish spawning areas as well as providing habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Walleye fingerlings are stocked annually (338lbs/year) into Serpent. The Walleye gill net catch was average, when compared to similar lakes, at 3.7/gill net. Average length was 16.8". Northern Pike numbers were average at 3.9/gill net. Average length was 22.3" with 23% in the 22-26" protected slot. Northern Pike at least 26" in length made up an additional 23% of the catch. Largemouth Bass were sampled in high numbers at 2.4/gill net. Average length was 10.3". Smallmouth Bass were captured in average numbers at 0.7/gill net. Average length was 12.4". Black Crappies were caught in average numbers at 0.6/gill net. Average length was 9.9". Black Crappies at least 8" in length made up 71% of the catch. Zebra mussels are present in Serpent Lake. Before and after launching lake users are required to inspect and remove any aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and trailers as well as pull the plug and drain all water from the watercraft, including bilges, livewells and baitwells.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 21, 2023.

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