Hay Lake
About Hay Lake
Hay Lake is a 140-acre lake near Wrenshall in Carlton County, Minnesota. It reaches 14 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 4 feet, and has roughly 4.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 6 feet.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 10 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2021.
There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the county. Ice typically goes out around April 10, based on 7 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Hay Lake
- 140 acres, up to 14 feet deep, near Wrenshall
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth) — managed by the county
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch
- Average water clarity around 6 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- county
Conditions
- Surface area
- 140 acres
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Average depth
- 4 ft
- Shoreline
- 4.5 mi
- Water clarity
- 6 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 122 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
Best For
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 10
- Game fish
- 6
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2021
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 10
- Years of record
- 7
- Earliest
- April 5, 1998
- Latest
- May 6, 2014
- Most recent
- May 1, 2023
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Hay Lake
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Nearby Lakes
Chub Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Carlton313 acres
1.7 miles away
Venoah Lake
24 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Carlton110 acres
1.9 miles away
Thomson Reservoir
43 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Thomson390 acres
5.8 miles away
Sand Lake
42 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Barnum128 acres
6 miles away
Bob Lake
51 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Sawyer77 acres
7.5 miles away
Park Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreCarlton · Mahtowa381 acres
9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hay Lake?
Hay Lake is in Carlton County, Minnesota, near Wrenshall. It covers 140 acres and reaches 14 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Hay Lake?
Hay Lake covers 140 acres with about 4.5 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 14 feet and its average depth is about 4 feet.
What fish can you catch at Hay Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Hay Lake?
Yes. Hay Lake has 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth), managed by the county. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Hay Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Hay Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Is Hay Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Hay Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Hay Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 10, from 7 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is April 5, 1998 and the latest is May 6, 2014.