Hay

Aitkin County, Minnesota — DOW #01005900

99 Surveys

128.88

Acres

32 ft

Max Depth

14 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Hay. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	9.3 (normal)	4.8 – 12.5	2.59 lb	37
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	3.16 lb	6
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	8.0 (normal)	4.8 – 12.5	2.48 lb	32
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	1.0	—	3.06 lb	9
1994-06-21	Standard gill nets	7.5 (normal)	4.8 – 12.5	2.13 lb	45
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	1.4	—	1.86 lb	13
1994-06-21	Survey seining	1.5	—	0.09 lb	3
1989-06-26	Standard gill nets	10.5 (normal)	4.8 – 12.5	1.44 lb	63
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	1.1	—	0.80 lb	9
2013-07-01	Standard gill nets	7.8 (normal)	4.8 – 12.5	2.98 lb	31
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	0.9	—	2.83 lb	8
2013-08-09	15-ft beach seine	0.3	—	—	1

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	5.3 (above normal)	1.0 – 4.8	0.20 lb	21
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	2.1 (normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.19 lb	19
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	18.8 (above normal)	1.0 – 4.8	0.09 lb	75
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	2.7 (normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.10 lb	24
1994-06-21	Survey seining	2.0	—	—	4
1994-06-21	Standard gill nets	1.2 (normal)	1.0 – 4.8	0.17 lb	7
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	4.3 (above normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.22 lb	39
1989-06-26	Standard gill nets	17.2 (above normal)	1.0 – 4.8	0.22 lb	103
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	4.1 (normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.21 lb	33
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	1.3	—	—	2
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	0.4	—	—	2
2013-07-01	Standard gill nets	4.3 (normal)	1.0 – 4.8	0.14 lb	17
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	3.7 (normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.16 lb	33
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	45.4	—	—	17
2013-08-09	15-ft beach seine	4.0	—	—	12

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.0 – 16.5	0.10 lb	1
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.5 – 5.7	1.27 lb	1
1989-06-26	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.0 – 16.5	0.30 lb	1
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.5 – 5.7	0.40 lb	5

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.91 lb	2
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.23 lb	3
1994-06-21	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	0.13 lb	8
2013-07-01	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.3	0.97 lb	1

Bowfin

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	1.7 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.5	3.49 lb	15
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.1	4.16 lb	1
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	2.1 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.5	3.81 lb	19
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 1.1	3.52 lb	2
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	2.4 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.5	3.11 lb	22
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 1.5	4.17 lb	6
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	0.6	—	—	1
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	0.2	—	—	1
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	2.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.5	3.90 lb	25

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	60.2 (above normal)	8.3 – 50.1	0.11 lb	542
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.13 lb	2
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	9.4 (normal)	8.3 – 50.1	0.19 lb	85
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	1.8	—	0.06 lb	7
1994-06-21	Survey seining	70.0	—	—	140
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	40.6 (normal)	8.3 – 50.1	0.12 lb	365
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	29.3 (normal)	8.3 – 50.1	0.16 lb	234
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	22.1	—	—	35
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	17.8	—	—	89
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	23.6 (normal)	8.3 – 50.1	0.18 lb	212
2013-07-01	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.21 lb	1
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	21.4	—	—	8
2013-08-09	15-ft beach seine	2.0	—	—	6

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	5.9 (normal)	2.8 – 10.3	0.12 lb	53
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.7 (below normal)	2.8 – 10.3	0.19 lb	6
1994-06-21	Survey seining	0.5	—	—	1
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	1.1 (below normal)	2.8 – 10.3	0.08 lb	10
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	6.8 (normal)	2.8 – 10.3	0.15 lb	54
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	4.4	—	—	7
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	0.8	—	—	4
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	2.8 – 10.3	0.19 lb	2

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.2 (normal)	0.1 – 1.7	0.06 lb	2
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 3.6	0.08 lb	1
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.1 (normal)	0.1 – 1.7	0.07 lb	1
1994-06-21	Survey seining	21.5	—	—	43
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	0.1 (normal)	0.1 – 1.7	0.06 lb	1
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	32.0	—	—	12

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-14	Standard gill nets	5.8 (normal)	2.0 – 21.5	0.09 lb	23
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	1.0 (below normal)	2.0 – 21.5	0.07 lb	4
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 2.8	0.06 lb	1
1994-06-21	Survey seining	10.5	—	—	21
1994-06-21	Standard gill nets	4.5 (normal)	2.0 – 21.5	0.10 lb	27
1989-06-26	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	2.0 – 21.5	0.10 lb	8
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	0.6	—	—	1
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	8.0	—	—	3

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	0.45 lb	2
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	0.21 lb	4
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	1.9	—	—	3
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	2.3	—	0.28 lb	21

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.9 – 12.1	0.72 lb	1
2024-06-14	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	2.1 – 10.5	1.14 lb	1
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	2.1 – 10.5	0.65 lb	7
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	2.1 – 10.5	0.38 lb	6
2013-07-01	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	2.1 – 10.5	0.82 lb	3

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-14	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 1.8	1.62 lb	2
1994-06-21	Survey seining	1.0	—	—	2
2024-07-05	Backpack electrofishing	2.5	—	—	4
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	—	5
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	32.0	—	—	12
2013-08-09	15-ft beach seine	4.7	—	—	14

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-06-21	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	1.01 lb	2
1989-06-26	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	1.00 lb	1

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1989-06-26	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.0	4.50 lb	1

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2024-07-05	15-ft beach seine	0.2	—	1

Johnny Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-08-09	Backpack electrofishing	8.0	—	3

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

McGregor, MN

(218) 429-2108

★ 5

Aitkin Rental

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6907

★ 4.5

Farm Island Repair and Marine

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6395

★ 4.7

FLOE International

McGregor, MN

(800) 336-6337

★ 4.8

Horseshoelakestorage.net

McGregor, MN

(218) 670-0063

★ 5

Libby Marine

McGregor, MN

(218) 994-9245

Resorts & Lodges Near Hay

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Hay.

Big Sandy Lake Cabin Rental

Fishing Resort McGregor

(612) 735-9455

McGregor Cabin Rentals

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 839-7545

Loaf N Leisure Resort and RV Park

Fishing Resort Aitkin

(218) 234-2882

Ole's Resort

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 426-3487

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Hay. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Crappie Bluegill Bowfin (Dogfish)Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed White Sucker Yellow Bullhead Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Hay

Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

(651) 271-8600

Mille Lacs Lake Guiding

Fishing Guide

(763) 238-7507

North Mille Lacs Ice Fishing

Fishing Guide

(218) 670-5012

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Plan Your Trip to Hay

Weather forecast for Hay — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 46.9552°N, 93.2115°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Hay

DNR Fish Surveys

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Black Bullhead

White Sucker

Bowfin

Bluegill

Pumpkinseed

Golden Shiner

Yellow Perch

Hybrid Sunfish

Yellow Bullhead

Largemouth Bass

Brown Bullhead

Walleye

CNM

Johnny Darter

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Aitkin Backwoods Farm Supply LLC

Bill's Sportsmans Service

Farm Island Store

Farm Island Store & Off Sale

Glen Store

McGregor Oil

Sather's Gateway Store

Sue’s Bait shop

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

Aitkin Rental

Farm Island Repair and Marine

FLOE International

Horseshoelakestorage.net

Libby Marine

Resorts & Lodges Near Hay

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Hay

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Aitkin

Anderson

Bachelor

Ball Bluff

Bass

Bay

Plan Your Trip to Hay