Hills Reservoir

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 67001200

DNR records show 7 stocking entries at Hills Reservoir since 2016, most recently bluegill sunfish adults in 2025 (160 fish).

• Hills Reservoir has 7 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2016-2025): bluegill sunfish (7).
• The most-stocked species by count is bluegill sunfish: 1,216 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 12 ft; surface area 6 acres, 6 littoral acres, 0.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 31, 2006 (standard survey).
• Rock County, nearest town Hills; DNR lake number (DOW) 67001200.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2006

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.

Hills Reservoir, located in Rock County, is a 10-acre reservoir with a watershed ratio of 50:1. Rock County has limited fishing opportunities and as a result the Windom Area DNR staff survey Hills in an effort to maintain a fishery. With that said, reservoirs in highly agricultural areas often have problems with silt filling the storage capacity. The community of Hills drained and dredged the reservoir in 1982 in an effort to create and improve the existing recreational fishery. This reservoir is managed primarily for black crappie and secondarily for bluegill. For the better part of 18 years, the panfish populations have been self-sustaining. Despite the lack of stocking, channel catfish, northern pike, walleye, and largemouth bass have been sampled at different times during previous surveys, which often times is a result of unauthorized stockings. Winterkill frequency has not been a substantial issue in Hills Reservoir because the reservoir maintains a maximum depth of 12 feet. A re-survey was conducted during the week of July 31, 2006 using 5 trap nets and 1 seine haul. The catch rate of black crappie in trap nets was 14.0 fish/trap net, which is greater than the normal range but down from the 2000 survey. Total lengths ranged from 5.6 to 15.8 inches and averaged 7.9 inches. Often times these small reservoirs can be suceptible to over harvest of predators. When this occurs, smaller fish become over-populated and "stunt" out, which leaves very few larger fish to catch. Our netting revealed some real trophy sized crappies. Most of the fish were quite plump and healthy, which indicated the fish had plenty of forage. This fishery is a real gem in Rock County for crappies due to the numbers of fish and the potential to catch a true trophy. If you are in the general vicinity and want the potential to catch a trophy sized crappie, try fishing on the north shore of this reservoir in the spring among the cattails. You may catch a trophy but I dont think you will be disappointed in the action. The catch rate of bluegill in trap nets was 10.0 fish/trap net, which was within the expected range. Total lengths ranged from 3.2 to 8.0 inches and averaged 4.2 inches. All of the fish that were caught in Hills are from natural reproduction as no stocking has occurred since 1988. It appeared that natural reproduction in 2006 was successful as 61 Age 0 bluegill were sampled. Although we didnt sample trophy sized fish, this reservoir will likely provide hours of fishing entertainment because of the numbers. Despite not being stocked since 1988, 10 northern pike were…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 31, 2006.

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