Hanson Lake (Becker County)

Becker County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 03017700

DNR records show 16 stocking entries at Hanson Lake (Becker County) since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (1,000 fish).

• Hanson Lake (Becker County) has 16 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (16).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 17,184 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 29 ft; surface area 35 acres, 17 littoral acres, 1.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 13.8 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, rainbow trout.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 31, 2023 (standard survey).
• Becker County, nearest town Rochert; DNR lake number (DOW) 03017700.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/14/1962 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

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.

Hanson Lake is a 32-acre lake that lies entirely within the boundaries of the Hubbel Pond Wildlife Management Area in central Becker County. The lake is surrounded by hardwood forest and grassland. Submerged and emergent vegetation grows in the nearshore area. There are no inlets or outlets on the one mile of undeveloped shoreline. It has been managed as a designated trout lake since 1962. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Hanson Lake in August 2023 to assess the fish populations. Hanson Lake was chemically treated in 1989 to kill all fish and restart the trout fishery without the presence of undesirable fish. Rainbow Trout have been stocked annually since 1990, and it is the only species stocked in Hanson Lake by the Department of Natural Resources. However, unauthorized, illegal fish stocking activity has occurred in Hanson Lake in recent years. Surveys since 2003 have found White Sucker, Golden Shiner, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie to be present in the lake. In 2023, the Rainbow Trout gill net catch rate was eight per net, just above the historical average (seven trout per net). Rainbow Trout captured in gill nets ranged in length from ten to 13 inches and averaged 12 inches. Since their discovery in the lake in 2003, the Golden Shiner abundance has fluctuated. In 2023, Golden Shiners were abundant in trap nets and gill nets. The only other species surveyed in 2023 was Black Crappie. Black Crappie ranged in length from four to ten inches and averaged six inches.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 31, 2023.

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