Hook Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 43007300

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Hook Lake since 2017, most recently black crappie adults in 2019 (474 fish).

• Hook Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 3 years (2017-2019): walleye (3), black crappie (1), bluegill sunfish (1).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 486,000 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 18 ft, mean depth 8 ft; surface area 330 acres, 324 littoral acres, 4.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: April 15, 2019 (targeted survey).
• McLeod County, nearest town Hutchinson; DNR lake number (DOW) 43007300.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/6/1970 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2019

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.

A 2018-2019 winter oxygen test indicated potential for winterkill at Hook Lake, and dead fish (150 Black Bullhead, 10 Northern Pike, 50 Bluegill, and 10 Yellow Perch) were verified at the culvert on the lake's southern shore on 3/19/19, before full ice-out. This ice-out trap netting survey was conducted to evaluate winterkill severity. Fish populations can fluctuate widely on Hook Lake, depending on the frequency and severity of the latest winterkill. A total of 1 (0.38") trap net and 4 (0.75") single frame trap nets were set on April 15, 2019, soon after ice-out, to document fish species presence and fish abundances at Hook Lake. Dead Black Bullhead and Northern Pike were observed by the trap net crew on 4/15/19. Trap net catches were as follows: The trap nets caught low to moderate numbers (63) of Black Bullhead ranging in length from 7.2 to 9.3 inches and one Yellow Perch measuring 5.8 inches in length. Low to moderate numbers (19) of Northern Pike were sampled, ranging in length from 19.2 to 33.5 inches. Numerous dead fish were observed, including Black Bullhead, signifying that the 2019 winterkill was possibly severe on many species. Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Common Carp, and Walleye were not netted. Northern Pike will likely provide the best fishing opportunities over the next several years, until fish stocked in 2019 (Walleye, Black Crappie, and Bluegill) can reproduce and grow to acceptable sizes.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, April 15, 2019.

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