Minnesota · DNR survey data

Hill River Lake

Hill River Lake covers 102 acres in Polk County, running to 60 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2025. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
Walleye
Just a few
0.8per gill net
Typical
22"Biggest
Largemouth bass
Just a few
1.7per hr (electrofishing)
Typical
Biggest
Northern pike
Good numbers
12.5per gill net
21"Typical
34"Biggest
15"34"

Lengths measured · 81 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
11"15"20"25"30"34"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

2025
11"15"20"25"30"34"

Lengths measured · 64 fish

2024
11"15"20"25"30"34"

Lengths measured · 19 fish

2014
11"15"20"25"30"34"

Lengths measured · 68 fish

2004
11"15"20"25"30"34"
Bluegill
Just a few
12.1per trap net
7"Typical
9"Biggest
3"9"

Lengths measured · 219 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 121 fish

2025
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 98 fish

2024
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 220 fish

2014
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 127 fish

2004
3"4"6"8"9"
Crappie
Fair numbers
12.4per trap net
7"Typical
11"Biggest
3"11"

Lengths measured · 229 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 84 fish

2025
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 145 fish

2024
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 90 fish

2014
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 132 fish

2004
3"4"6"8"10"11"
Yellow perch
Excellent numbers
19per gill net
6"Typical
17"Biggest
5"17"

Lengths measured · 89 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
4"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 7 fish

2025
4"5"10"15"17"

Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 82 fish

2024
4"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

2014
4"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 62 fish

2004
4"5"10"15"17"

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

Recent reports

Hill River Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Hill River 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.

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Polk County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Hill River Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Hill River Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Hill River Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2025) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.

Does Hill River Lake have a public access?

Yes. Hill River Lake has one public access site: Hill River Lake (trailer launch).

Is Hill River Lake stocked?

No stocking is on record for Hill River Lake in the DNR's stocking database.

When was Hill River Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Hill River Lake in 2025, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .