Minnesota · McLeod County
Hook Lake Fishing guide
Hook Lake is a 330-acre lake in McLeod County, Minnesota, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2019, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 7 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeOne of the best around15.8per gill net20"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 125 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2019Lengths measured · 19 fish
2019Lengths measured · 106 fish
2015Lengths measured · 52 fish
2010Lengths measured · 122 fish
2005BluegillLast stocked 2019Just a few5.3per trap net2"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 48 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 48 fish
2015Lengths measured · 36 fish
2010Lengths measured · 413 fish
2005Lengths measured · 17 fish
2000CrappieLast stocked 2019Fair numbers12.8per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 203 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 203 fish
2015Lengths measured · 696 fish
2010Lengths measured · 225 fish
2005Lengths measured · 55 fish
2000Yellow perchExcellent numbers14.8per gill net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2019Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 90 fish
2015Lengths measured · 19 fish
2010Lengths measured · 3 fish
2000Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates 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 Hook Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 2.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 98% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 98% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 33" | — | 5" |
| 2015 | 29" | 11" | 9" |
| 2010 | 33" | 26" | 7" |
| 2005 | 39" | 26" | — |
| 2000 | 34" | 19" | 5" |
| 1995 | 38" | 25" | 8" |
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:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Walleye · Trolling
Planer Board Spread
4–6" crankbait or a 5–6 ft crawler harness run out to the side on an in-line planer board
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Black Crappie | 474 adults |
| 2019 | Bluegill Sunfish | 240 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 162,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 162,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 162,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2019 survey
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.
Read the full DNR narrative
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.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Hook Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on 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
- Hook Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Hook Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Todd Lake · 214 ac · 1.2 mi
- Jennie Lake · 1,069 ac · 3.3 mi
- Stahl's Lake · 141 ac · 3.6 mi
- French Lake · 42 ac · 3.7 mi
- Belle Lake · 864 ac · 4.2 mi
- Wolf Lake · 262 ac · 4.6 mi
- Clear Lake · 82 ac · 4.8 mi
- Otter Lake · 642 ac · 5.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Hook Lake?
Hook Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8 ft; about 98% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Hook Lake?
Hook Lake covers 330 acres with about 4.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Hook Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Hook Lake average 2.2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Hook Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Hook Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie, bluegill sunfish and walleye in 2019; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Hook Lake have a public access?
Yes. Hook Lake has one public access site: Hook Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Hook Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 33"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Hook Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Hook Lake in 2019, the most recent of 11 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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