Hiniker Pond
Blue Earth County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 07014700
DNR records show 17 stocking entries at Hiniker Pond since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (3,000 fish).
- Hiniker Pond has 17 DNR stocking records across 8 years (2016-2025): black crappie (4), bluegill sunfish (3), northern pike (3), walleye (3), and 3 more species.
- The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 6,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 21 ft; surface area 18 acres, 12 littoral acres, 0.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 6.8 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, common carp, freshwater drum, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, shortnose gar, walleye, yellow bullhead.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Blue Earth County, nearest town North Mankato; DNR lake number (DOW) 07014700.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 3,000 | 2,142.9 |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 3,000 | 2,307.7 |
| 2023 | Black Crappie | adults | 216 | 54.0 |
| 2023 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 270 | 54.0 |
| 2023 | Northern Pike | adults | 34 | 68.0 |
| 2021 | Black Crappie | adults | 369 | 123.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fingerlings | 837 | 41.9 |
| 2018 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 420 | 42.0 |
| 2017 | Black Crappie | adults | 254 | 127.0 |
| 2017 | Northern Pike | adults | 77 | 154.0 |
| 2016 | Black Crappie | adults | 5 | 2.4 |
| 2016 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 136 | 26.2 |
| 2016 | Largemouth Bass | yearlings | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2016 | Northern Pike | adults | 77 | 124.2 |
| 2016 | Walleye | adults | 25 | 50.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | yearlings | 138 | 32.0 |
| 2016 | Yellow Perch | adults | 122 | 37.0 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| O | city | - CITY PARK AND BEACH |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 5.50 | 33 | 0.33 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 5.00 | 30 | 0.15 |
| Freshwater drum | Standard trap nets | 0.50 | 3 | 1.30 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 1 | 0.28 |
| Shortnose gar | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Common carp | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 1 | 8.56 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 1 | 1.97 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 3 | 3.28 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 3 | 1.42 |
| Shortnose gar | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 3 | 1.77 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 2 | 0.15 |
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.
Hiniker Pond is an 18-acre lake within the city of Mankato. Hiniker Pond has a maximum depth of 21 feet with approximately 66% of the lake classified as littoral area. Hiniker Pond was excavated in the 1940s and has been under private and municipal ownership since. The pond is located within a city park which includes a walking path around the lake, a swimming beach, and a fishing pier. There is no public boat access although small craft may be carried to the lake. Hiniker Pond is connected to an oxbow lake and the Minnesota River during high water. Hiniker Pond is primarily managed as a Kid's Fishing Pond and is stocked with Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, crappies, and Northern Pike on an as-needed basis. Hiniker Pond also contains riverine species such as Gizzard Shad and Shortnose Gar due to its periodic connection to the Minnesota River. Hiniker Pond was stocked with Rainbow Trout in January 2024 to provide an additional angling opportunity in southern Minnesota. If successful, the stocking will become annual. A standard survey was completed the week of 30 June 2023 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by the Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying 2 gill nets and 6 trap nets. Water quality parameters were also recorded. Gill nets sampled very few fish. Three each of Northern Pike, Shortnose Gar, and Walleye were sampled with gill nets. Additionally, two Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets. Thirty-three Black Crappies (5.5/trap net) were sampled with trap nets. Black Crappie ranged from 4.1 inches to 11.7 inches and averaged 8.0 inches. Black Crappie were aged using otoliths. Seven year-classes (age-1 through age-7) were present. Black Crappie reached 9 inches in length by their 4th year. Thirty Bluegill were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 5.0/trap net. Bluegill ranged from 3.9 inches to 7.2 inches and averaged 5.6 inches. Bluegill were aged using otoliths. Bluegills age-2 through age-5 were present with 83% being age-3 or age-4. Bluegill growth was similar to other area lakes with fish reaching 6 inches by their 4th year. Other species sampled in trap nets but in low numbers included Common Carp, Freshwater Drum (sheepshead), hybrid Sunfish, Shortnose Gar, and Yellow Bullhead. Water temperature ranged from 76.6 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 68.2 degrees Fahrenheit at 10 feet. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 9.3 ppm at the surface to 0.2 ppm at 10 feet. A thermocline was detected between 7 and 8 feet deep. -Brandon Eder, assistant area supervisor
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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