Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Lower Hay Lake Fishing guide
Lower Hay Lake is a 700-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 100 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 25 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers2.8per gill net14"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 36 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 9 fish
2024Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2024Lengths measured · 27 fish
2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2022Largemouth bassPresent0.3per gill net15"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2018Lengths measured · 42 fish
2011Lengths measured · 16 fish
2005No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few4.7per gill net22"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 61 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 61 fish
2024Lengths measured · 178 fish
2018Lengths measured · 199 fish
2011Lengths measured · 110 fish
2005BluegillJust a few12.4per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 152 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 152 fish
2024Lengths measured · 69 fish
2018Lengths measured · 605 fish
2011Lengths measured · 866 fish
2005CrappieJust a few0.9per trap net10"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2018Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2011Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 82 fish
2005Yellow perchGood numbers11.2per gill net5"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 136 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 136 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2018Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2011Lengths measured · 31 fish
2005Last recorded in the 2005 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassElite fishery4.3per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 57 fish
2024Lengths measured · 118 fish
2018Lengths measured · 178 fish
2011Lengths measured · 200 fish
2005Rates 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 Lower Hay Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 18.6 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 100 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. At 18.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29" | 18" | 35" |
| 2023 | 9" | — | — |
| 2022 | 18" | — | — |
| 2021 | 18" | — | — |
| 2020 | 20" | — | — |
| 2019 | 11" | — | — |
| 2018 | 27" | 16" | 32" |
| 2017 | 23" | — | — |
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 · 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.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
The current management plan calls for 5 million Walleye fry to be stocked annually into Whitefish which is connected to Lower Hay by a wide channel. In even numbered years Whitefish is also stocked with 2,714 lbs. of fingerlings; some of this stocking takes place at the Lower Hay access. Night electrofishing was conducted on September 17th, 2025, to monitor the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleyes. Total sample time was 34 minutes, which resulted in no Walleye being caught. Previous YOY Walleye catches have ranged from 0 to 53.1 per hour.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lower Hay Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lower Hay 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
- Lower Hay Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lower Hay Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bertha Lake · 337 ac · 1.7 mi
- Upper Hay Lake · 596 ac · 2 mi
- Clamshell Lake · 211 ac · 2.8 mi
- Whitefish Lake · 7,714 ac · 3.1 mi
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 3.2 mi
- Clear Lake · 226 ac · 3.2 mi
- Strawberry Lake · 20 ac · 4 mi
- Kimball Lake · 190 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lower Hay Lake?
Lower Hay Lake reaches 100 ft at its deepest point; about 31% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lower Hay Lake?
Lower Hay Lake covers 700 acres with about 4.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lower Hay Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lower Hay Lake average 18.6 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lower Hay Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake trout, rock bass.
Is Lower Hay Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Lower Hay Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Lower Hay Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lower Hay Lake has one public access site: Lower Hay Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lower Hay Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2017.
When was Lower Hay Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lower Hay Lake in 2025, the most recent of 25 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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