Minnesota · Cook County
Hungry Jack Lake Fishing guide
Hungry Jack Lake covers 474 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 71 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 15.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 15 times, most recently in 2020, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 6 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.2per gill net16"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2016 + 2020Lengths measured · 42 fish
2020Lengths measured · 47 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2012Lengths measured · 22 fish
2008Smallmouth bassGood numbers25.8per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2016 + 2020Lengths measured · 21 fish
2020Lengths measured · 17 fish
2016Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2008Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few1per gill net27"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2016 + 2020Lengths measured · 12 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 3 fish
2012Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2008Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few14.9per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 539 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2016 + 2020Lengths measured · 348 fish
2020Lengths measured · 111 fish
2016Lengths measured · 80 fish
2012Lengths measured · 41 fish
2008No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchGood numbers6.3per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 208 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2016 + 2020Lengths measured · 68 fish
2020Lengths measured · 114 fish
2016Lengths measured · 26 fish
2012Lengths measured · 9 fish
2008Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Last recorded in the 1994 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 2004 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 2001 survey and not seen since.
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 Hungry Jack Lake through the year
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 15.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 71 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 15.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 71 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.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18" | 26" | 32" |
| 2016 | 18" | 25" | 28" |
| 2012 | 16" | 21" | 33" |
| 2008 | 17" | 30" | 37" |
| 2004 | 17" | 27" | 26" |
| 2001 | 15" | 29" | 20" |
| 1997 | 17" | 21" | — |
| 1994 | 16" | 27" | — |
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:
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | 2,992 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 9,650 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,491 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 12,437 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 7,720 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2020 survey
Hungry Jack Lake is part of a cluster of medium sized easily-accessed lakes about 30 road miles from Grand Marais. It is a moderately developed lake, with two resorts and several cabins on its shores. The lake lacks a public boat launch; public access is limited to a carry-down trail. Nevertheless, use of this lake by anglers has been fairly high, historically.
In the current (2014) lake management plan (LMP) primary and secondary management species in Hungry Jack Lake are Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. The long range goal for Walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with no size goal set. The goal for Smallmouth Bass is to maintain a minimum proportional size distribution (PSD; stock = 7 in, quality = 11 in) of 50 for fish taken by angling, with a minimum gill net catch of 1.0 fish/set. The Smallmouth Bass population in this lake has been managed under special regulations since 1996; first an 11-inch maximum size limit, then a 12-inch maximum size limit, and now (since 2018), a 14-inch maximum size limit, with the harvest of one fish over 20 inches allowed. The 2020 survey was the second of three scheduled in the 2014 LMP to determine whether an increase in the walleye stocking rate that began in 2005 had resulted in an increase in walleye gill net catches, and to evaluate the 2018 change in the Smallmouth Bass regulation. The first survey was completed as planned in 2016.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye numbers appeared to have been fairly high in 2020, as did the average size of Walleye taken in gill nets and trap nets. The Walleye gill net catch goal was met in 2020, as it was in 2016. Walleye taken in gill nets in 2020 ranged in length from 10.8 to 25.6 inches, with about a third of the catch over 20 inches. Nine year classes (fish 3-12 years old) were included in the catch. Natural year classes apparently produced in 2016, 2014, and 2010 contributed a few fish to the catch, but years in which fingerlings were stocked accounted for 86% of the Walleye taken in this survey. Some of those fish may have been naturally produced, but consistent higher strengths of stocked year classes indicated stocking since 2009 had contributing substantially to the walleye population. Walleye growth had been average or better for the area; fish reached a mean length of 17.6 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 16.5 inches. Good Walleye growth was likely due to the presence of fairly high numbers of Yellow Perch, and access to a Rainbow Smelt forage base of unknown size.
This survey provided more evidence that stocking Walleye fingerlings at a higher rate (1.0 lb/littoral acre/year) since 2005 had resulted in a modest increase in Walleye abundance in this lake. Stocked year classes apparently made fairly strong contributions to catches in 2016 and 2020. As a result catches in both years met the Walleye goal in this lake for the first time since 2001.
Hungry Jack Lake continued to support a high-quality Smallmouth Bass population in 2020. The gill net catch goal was not met in 2020, but it was clear from gill and trap net length distributions that the lake was still producing good numbers of larger Smallmouth Bass. The mean weight for Smallmouth Bass taken in gill nets in 2020 (2.47 lb/fish) was the highest ever seen in this lake historically, mainly because no fish under 14 inches were sampled.
Good numbers of larger-than-average sized Northern Pike were present in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020. The Northern Pike gill net catch was close to the median for a Class 3 lake, was similar to the catch seen in 2016, and was one of the higher catches observed in this lake since 1984. All of the Northern Pike taken in gill nets were over 20 inches in length, and most were over 24 inches (up to 32.8 inches).
Hungry Jack is one of just a small number of lakes in this area supporting significant Bluegill populations. Bluegill appeared to have been abundant in 2020, with enough larger fish present to drive some good fishing. The 2020 Bluegill trap net catch was well above the third quartile for the lake class, and was by far the highest ever seen in this lake. About 19% of Bluegill sampled in trap nets exceeded six inches in length, and several fish over eight inches were sampled. A few Hybrid Sunfish were also sampled in 2020, and some of those fish also exceeded eight inches in length.
Yellow Perch were fairly abundant in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020, although most were small. The Yellow Perch gill net catch was one of the higher catches seen in this lake since 1988, and was above the normal range for a lake of this type. Although not supporting much angling opportunity, Yellow Perch were important as a key component of the forage base for Walleye and Northern Pike in this lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Hungry Jack Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Hungry Jack 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
- Hungry Jack Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Hungry Jack Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bearskin Lake · 509 ac · 0.6 mi
- Wampus Lake · 30 ac · 1.3 mi
- Aspen Lake · 141 ac · 1.6 mi
- Squint Lake · 16 ac · 1.7 mi
- Duncan Lake · 477 ac · 1.8 mi
- Leo Lake · 102 ac · 1.9 mi
- Daniels Lake · 509 ac · 2 mi
- Road Lake · 12 ac · 2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Hungry Jack Lake?
Hungry Jack Lake reaches 71 ft at its deepest point; about 39% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Hungry Jack Lake?
Hungry Jack Lake covers 474 acres with about 8.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Hungry Jack Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Hungry Jack Lake average 15.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Hungry Jack Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2020) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout, lake trout, splake.
Is Hungry Jack Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Hungry Jack Lake have a public access?
Yes. Hungry Jack Lake has one public access site: Hungry Jack Lake (carry-in).
How big do smallmouth bass get in Hungry Jack Lake?
The biggest smallmouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Hungry Jack Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Hungry Jack Lake in 2020, the most recent of 15 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Hungry Jack Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Hungry Jack Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report