---
type: lake
name: "Hay Lake"
county: "Carlton"
nearest_town: "Wrenshall"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 140
max_depth_ft: 14
latitude: 46.59899
longitude: -92.46477
lake_score: 52
dnr_lake_id: "09001000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/hay-lake
---

# Hay Lake

Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota, near Wrenshall

- **Surface Area**: 140 acres
- **Max Depth**: 14 ft
- **Average Depth**: 4 ft
- **Shoreline**: 4.5 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 6 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Lake Score**: 52/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

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.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Managed by**: county
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 10
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2021
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 10
- **Years of record**: 7
- **Earliest**: 1998-04-05
- **Latest**: 2014-05-06

## Nearby Lakes

- [Chub Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/chub-lake) - 1.7 miles, 313 acres
- [Venoah Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/venoah-lake) - 1.9 miles, 110 acres
- [Thomson Reservoir](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/thomson-reservoir) - 5.8 miles, 390 acres
- [Sand Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/sand-lake) - 6 miles, 128 acres
- [Bob Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/bob-lake) - 7.5 miles, 77 acres
- [Park Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/park-lake) - 9 miles, 381 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.59899,-92.46477)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=09001000)
- [All lakes in Carlton County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/hay-lake)*