Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Upper Hay Lake Fishing guide
Upper Hay Lake is a 596-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 42 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikePresent0.1per seine haul20"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2020Lengths measured · 120 fish
2014Lengths measured · 81 fish
2008BluegillJust a few22.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 204 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 204 fish
2022Lengths measured · 122 fish
2020Lengths measured · 125 fish
2014Lengths measured · 239 fish
2008Rates 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 Upper Hay 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 42 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 42 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 | 21" | 15" | 27" |
| 2020 | 28" | 17" | 27" |
| 2014 | 28" | 17" | 28" |
| 2008 | 24" | 17" | 31" |
| 2002 | 26" | 18" | 24" |
| 1997 | 19" | 13" | 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:
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 184,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 184,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Upper Hay Lake was conducted on June 27-29, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at fourteen sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample twelve stations and a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured twenty species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured ten species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Upper Hay Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Pine River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Upper Hay Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Upper 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
- Upper Hay Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Upper Hay Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lower Hay Lake · 700 ac · 2 mi
- Bertha Lake · 337 ac · 2.6 mi
- Clear Lake · 226 ac · 3.4 mi
- Sibley Lake · 444 ac · 3.7 mi
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 3.9 mi
- Clamshell Lake · 211 ac · 3.9 mi
- Strawberry Lake · 20 ac · 4.4 mi
- Ossawinnamakee Lake · 711 ac · 4.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Upper Hay Lake?
Upper Hay Lake reaches 42 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Upper Hay Lake?
Upper Hay Lake covers 596 acres with about 3.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Upper Hay Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Upper Hay Lake average 8.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Upper Hay Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Upper Hay Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Upper Hay Lake have a public access?
Yes. Upper Hay Lake has one public access site: Upper Hay Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Upper Hay Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 21"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Upper Hay Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Upper Hay Lake in 2022, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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