Minnesota · Hubbard County
Fish Hook Lake Fishing guide
Fish Hook Lake covers 1,643 acres in Hubbard County, Minnesota, reaching 76 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers6.7per gill net15"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 82 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2017Lengths measured · 92 fish
2012Lengths measured · 110 fish
2007Largemouth bassGood numbers57.5per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 119 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 119 fish
2022Lengths measured · 115 fish
2017Lengths measured · 61 fish
2012Lengths measured · 58 fish
2007No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers8.8per gill net20"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 109 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 109 fish
2022Lengths measured · 163 fish
2017Lengths measured · 189 fish
2012Lengths measured · 158 fish
2007BluegillFair numbers44.8per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 591 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 591 fish
2022Lengths measured · 723 fish
2017Lengths measured · 303 fish
2012Lengths measured · 410 fish
2007Yellow perchGood numbers7.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 92 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 92 fish
2022Lengths measured · 88 fish
2017Lengths measured · 45 fish
2012Lengths measured · 120 fish
2007Rock bassOne of the best around7.3per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 112 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 112 fish
2022Lengths measured · 79 fish
2017Lengths measured · 198 fish
2012Lengths measured · 279 fish
2007Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Fish Hook Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 76 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 76 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 28" | 18" | 38" |
| 2017 | 28" | 18" | 37" |
| 2012 | 26" | 19" | 34" |
| 2007 | 29" | 19" | 36" |
| 2002 | 30" | 14" | 34" |
| 1997 | 25" | 20" | 35" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 16,414 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 14,784 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 10,720 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 11,396 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 27,966 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Fish Hook Lake on July 28th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 71.8 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 22.2 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 1.4 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present but marginal.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.2 degrees C (68.4 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2018 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Fish Hook Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Fish Hook Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Fish Hook Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Fish Hook Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ivan Lake · 22 ac · 2.2 mi
- Portage Lake · 429 ac · 2.8 mi
- Potato Lake · 2,096 ac · 3.5 mi
- Peysenske Lake · 220 ac · 5.2 mi
- Blue Lake · 336 ac · 5.3 mi
- Eagle Lake · 424 ac · 5.3 mi
- Long Lake · 1,926 ac · 5.4 mi
- Loon Lake · 82 ac · 5.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Fish Hook Lake?
Fish Hook Lake reaches 76 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 26 ft; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Fish Hook Lake?
Fish Hook Lake covers 1,643 acres with about 9.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Fish Hook Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Fish Hook Lake average 8.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Fish Hook Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Fish Hook Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Fish Hook Lake have a public access?
Yes. Fish Hook Lake has one public access site: Fish Hook Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Fish Hook Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Fish Hook Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Fish Hook Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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