Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 24, 2017
Smokey Hollow Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Smokey Hollow Lake average 19.68 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. In Crow Wing County, Minnesota, Smokey Hollow Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 6.6 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Smokey Hollow Lake
9 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Smokey Hollow Lake
No stocking record for Smokey Hollow 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 Smokey Hollow Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Smokey Hollow Lake average 19.68 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Smokey Hollow Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 19.68 | 1.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 17.23 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.98 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.41 | 0.71 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.76 | 0.09 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.63 | 0.22 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Bass
From the 2017-07-24 survey
Smokey Hollow is a quiet 114 acre lake located one mile south of Outing in Crow Wing County. Smokey Hollow reaches depths of 25', with 45% being 15' deep or less. A small public access is located on the east side of the lake. Water lilies are fairly common along the lakeshore. Protection of aquatic vegetation,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Smokey Hollow Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Smokey HollowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Smokey Hollow (0433)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Smokey Hollow (1523)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Smokey HollowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Smokey Hollow Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Smokey Hollow Lake average 19.68 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 9 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Smokey Hollow Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Smokey Hollow Lake is dated July 24, 2017. 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 Smokey Hollow Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Smokey Hollow 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.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Smokey Hollow Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Smokey Hollow Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is 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 can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
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Top-rated places to stay near Smokey Hollow Lake
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