Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 7, 1982
Stocking at Hay Lake
No stocking record for Hay Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Hay Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 7, 1982 caught 7.00 northern pike per gill net at Hay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1982-07-07 (Standard Survey).
1 survey on file · most recent 1982-07-07 (Standard Survey)
44 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 7.63 | 0.12 lb | |
| Northern Pike | 7.00 | 2 lb | |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.25 | 0.13 lb | |
| Bluegill | 4.00 | 0.24 lb | |
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.25 | 0.46 lb | |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.75 | 0.74 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
From the 1982-07-07 survey
Present Northern Pike population is composed of various year classes with an excellent length frequency. Growth and abundance is about average for this area. Bluegills, Pumpkinseeds, and Black Crappie abundance below average but size is good. Largemouth Bass present in low numbers.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hay Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Hay Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 7, 1982 caught 7.00 northern pike per gill net at Hay Lake. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Hay Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Hay Lake is dated July 7, 1982. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Hay Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Hay Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Hay Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class: a lake with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Hay Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Hay Lake
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