Lower Hay

Crow Wing County, Minnesota — DOW #18037800

83 Surveys

Special Regulations for Lower Hay

This lake has regulations that differ from statewide defaults. Always check before fishing.

Invasive Species Alert

Lower Hay has confirmed populations of:

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

700.21
Acres
100 ft
Max Depth
0
21
Fish Species
15
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Johnny Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.6 8
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 20.9 46

Yellow Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 2.3 5
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 12.4 (above normal) 1.2 – 5.2 0.52 lb 124

Yellow Perch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 199.4 2792
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 1.8 4
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 2.0 (normal) 0.6 – 3.5 0.10 lb 20
1995-06-19 Survey seining 4.8 0.04 lb 29
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 4.6 (below normal) 7.0 – 46.3 0.08 lb 32

Rock Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 1.4 19
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 23.1 51
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 19.4 (above normal) 0.5 – 2.5 0.32 lb 194

Northern Pike

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.4 5
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 6.9 (normal) 2.8 – 9.0 3.44 lb 48
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 3.31 lb 2

Tadpole Madtom

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 1

Largemouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 10.7 150
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 3
1995-06-19 Survey seining 4.8 0.11 lb 29
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 1.5 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.3 0.77 lb 15

Fathead Minnow

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 0.9 2

Common Shiner

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 3.1 43
1995-06-19 Survey seining 20.3 122
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 0.06 lb 2

White Sucker

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 2.7 6
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 5.9 82
1995-06-19 Survey seining 7.2 0.11 lb 43
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 1.3 (normal) 0.9 – 4.0 2.51 lb 9
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 1.7 (above normal) 0.2 – 1.1 2.28 lb 17

Spottail Shiner

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 1

Smallmouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.4 6
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.1 (normal) 0.1 – 0.9 2.76 lb 1

CRC

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 3
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 1

BCS

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 2.6 36

Hybrid Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 0.5 1
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.4 6
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 0.16 lb 2

Green Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 3.6 8
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 1.6 22

Mottled Sculpin

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 1

Bluegill

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 34.4 482
1995-06-19 Survey seining 1.2 0.09 lb 7
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 71.9 (above normal) 4.4 – 49.0 0.05 lb 719

Pumpkinseed

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.9 13
1995-06-19 Survey seining 0.8 0.09 lb 5
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 2.5 (normal) 1.8 – 7.8 0.12 lb 25

Longnose Dace

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 11.8 26
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 1.2 17

Iowa Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 2.7 6
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 1.4 19

Black Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.2 3
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.3 – 2.6 0.73 lb 2

Mimic Shiner

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 0.9 2
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 1

Bluntnose Minnow

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 2.3 5
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 5.3 74
1995-06-19 Survey seining 7.0 42

BKF

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 15.9 35
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 13.5 189
1995-06-19 Survey seining 0.2 1

Logperch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 Backpack electrofishing 8.2 18
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 56.5 791
1995-06-19 Survey seining 12.5 75

Walleye

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.4 5
2010-09-14 Special electrofishing 20.9 0.11 lb 40
2019-10-01 Fall electrofishing 45.5 0.22 lb 25
2022-09-28 Fall electrofishing 25.9 0.34 lb 18
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 0.9 (below normal) 3.3 – 8.8 1.28 lb 6
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 (normal) 0.2 – 0.8 0.24 lb 2
2013-09-25 Special electrofishing 66.1 0.07 lb 50
2014-09-23 Special electrofishing 52.5 0.41 lb 35
2016-09-20 Special electrofishing 59.0 0.07 lb 36
2023-09-18 Fall electrofishing 37.7 0.12 lb 27

Golden Shiner

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2018-08-01 50-ft beach seine 0.1 2

Brown Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 1.0 (normal) 0.3 – 1.6 0.78 lb 10

SLR

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 5.53 lb 2

GRR

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 1.4 4.70 lb 14

LKW

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 1.1 (normal) 0.2 – 2.7 0.64 lb 8

Shorthead Redhorse

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.2 (normal) 0.1 – 1.2 2.49 lb 2

Tullibee (Cisco)

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard gill nets 1.1 (normal) 0.8 – 6.2 0.24 lb 8

Bowfin

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 0.5 (normal) 0.3 – 1.1 6.43 lb 5

Black Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1995-06-19 Standard trap nets 1.0 (normal) 0.4 – 2.3 0.52 lb 10

Depth Maps & Lake Info

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Resorts & Lodges Near Lower Hay

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Fish Species

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

Black BullheadBlack CrappieBluegillBowfin (Dogfish)Brown BullheadGreater RedhorseGreen SunfishHybrid SunfishLake WhitefishLargemouth BassNorthern PikePumpkinseedRock BassShorthead RedhorseSilver RedhorseSmallmouth BassTullibee (Cisco)WalleyeWhite SuckerYellow BullheadYellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Lower Hay

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