Hill

Hill Lake is a picturesque 25 acre lake off of the Switzerland Trail road. The lake has an undeveloped shoreline and is bordered by a steep, wooded hill on the west side. The lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet. There is no public access on the lake. The northern pike population has increased steadily since the start of assessment work in 1956 to an index value of 8.7 fish per gill net, which is just outside of the normal range for this type of lake. There has been a shift toward higher abundance and smaller fish in recent surveys. Anglers are encouraged to harvest smaller northern pike, less than 22 inches and return the larger ones to the lake. Seven largemouth bass were sampled in the assessment, which is about normal. The largest fish was 15 inches long and five fish were from the 1998 year-class. This year-class should provide good fishing opportunity in 4-6 years when they attain larger sizes. Bluegills are found in normal abundance in Hill Lake at around 23 fish per trap net. The size of the sampled population was good and the presence of old fish, eight inches and larger suggests there is relatively light fishing pressure. With slow growth and the amount of time that it takes to produce an eight inch bluegill, 13 years on average, this is a fragile population. This quality-sized population will not be able to sustain heavy fishing pressure of the intensity seen on other area lakes. Black crappie abundance decreased from the previous three nettings, but is still within the normal range for this lake type. More yellow perch were encountered than in previous work giving an index well above the normal range.

The trap net indices for yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, bluegill and black crappie were above the lake type 20 third quartiles. Northern pike sampled (18 of 21 aged) ranged from two to six years of age. Growth increment analysis indicated normal growth rates. Bluegill sampled (36 of 108 aged) ranged from three to eight plus years of age with strong year classes indicated for 1984 and 1985. The growth rate of the second through the fourth growth increments were slower than normal. Black crappie sampled (39 of 51 aged) ranged from two to seven years of age with strong year classes indicated for 1986 and 1987. The growth rates of the first and second growth increments were slower than normal.

PUMPKINSEED AND BLUEGILL POPULATIONS WERE APPROX. DOUBLE THE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS; NORTHERN PIKE, LARGEMOUTH BASS, AND BLACK CRAPPIE ABUNDANCE IS NORMAL AND THE YELLOW PERCH POPULATION IS VERY LOW GROWTH RATES WER CHECKED ON PUMPKINSEEDS, BLUEGILL BLACK CRAPPIES; ALL WERE SLOW GROWTH.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill in Hill. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Hill. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Hill has a maximum depth of 67 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hill is from 2000. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Hill in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.