Hungry Jack

Hungry Jack Lake is part of a cluster of medium sized easily-accessed lakes about 30 road miles from Grand Marais. It is a moderately developed lake, with two resorts and several cabins on its shores. The lake lacks a public boat launch; public access is limited to a carry-down trail. Nevertheless, use of this lake by anglers has been fairly high, historically. In the current (2014) lake management plan (LMP) primary and secondary management species in Hungry Jack Lake are Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. The long range goal for Walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with no size goal set. The goal for Smallmouth Bass is to maintain a minimum proportional size distribution (PSD; stock = 7 in, quality = 11 in) of 50 for fish taken by angling, with a minimum gill net catch of 1.0 fish/set. The Smallmouth Bass population in this lake has been managed under special regulations since 1996; first an 11-inch maximum size limit, then a 12-inch maximum size limit, and now (since 2018), a 14-inch maximum size limit, with the harvest of one fish over 20 inches allowed. The 2020 survey was the second of three scheduled in the 2014 LMP to determine whether an increase in the walleye stocking rate that began in 2005 had resulted in an increase in walleye gill net catches, and to evaluate the 2018 change in the Smallmouth Bass regulation. The first survey was completed as planned in 2016. Walleye numbers appeared to have been fairly high in 2020, as did the average size of Walleye taken in gill nets and trap nets. The Walleye gill net catch goal was met in 2020, as it was in 2016. Walleye taken in gill nets in 2020 ranged in length from 10.8 to 25.6 inches, with about a third of the catch over 20 inches. Nine year classes (fish 3-12 years old) were included in the catch. Natural year classes apparently produced in 2016, 2014, and 2010 contributed a few fish to the catch, but years in which fingerlings were stocked accounted for 86% of the Walleye taken in this survey. Some of those fish may have been naturally produced, but consistent higher strengths of stocked year classes indicated stocking since 2009 had contributing substantially to the walleye population. Walleye growth had been average or better for the area; fish reached a mean length of 17.6 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 16.5 inches. Good Walleye growth was likely due to the presence of fairly high numbers of Yellow Perch, and access to a Rainbow Smelt forage base of unknown size. This survey provided more evidence that stocking Walleye fingerlings at a higher rate (1.0 lb/littoral acre/year) since 2005 had resulted in a modest increase in Walleye abundance in this lake. Stocked year classes apparently made fairly strong contributions to catches in 2016 and 2020. As a result catches in both years met the Walleye goal in this lake for the first time since 2001. Hungry Jack Lake continued to support a high-quality Smallmouth Bass population in 2020. The gill net catch goal was not met in 2020, but it was clear from gill and trap net length distributions that the lake was still producing good numbers of larger Smallmouth Bass. The mean weight for Smallmouth Bass taken in gill nets in 2020 (2.47 lb/fish) was the highest ever seen in this lake historically, mainly because no fish under 14 inches were sampled. Good numbers of larger-than-average sized Northern Pike were present in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020. The Northern Pike gill net catch was close to the median for a Class 3 lake, was similar to the catch seen in 2016, and was one of the higher catches observed in this lake since 1984. All of the Northern Pike taken in gill nets were over 20 inches in length, and most were over 24 inches (up to 32.8 inches). Hungry Jack is one of just a small number of lakes in this area supporting significant Bluegill populations. Bluegill appeared to have been abundant in 2020, with enough larger fish present to drive some good fishing. The 2020 Bluegill trap net catch was well above the third quartile for the lake class, and was by far the highest ever seen in this lake. About 19% of Bluegill sampled in trap nets exceeded six inches in length, and several fish over eight inches were sampled. A few Hybrid Sunfish were also sampled in 2020, and some of those fish also exceeded eight inches in length. Yellow Perch were fairly abundant in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020, although most were small. The Yellow Perch gill net catch was one of the higher catches seen in this lake since 1988, and was above the normal range for a lake of this type. Although not supporting much angling opportunity, Yellow Perch were important as a key component of the forage base for Walleye and Northern Pike in this lake.

Hungry Jack Lake is currently managed for Walleye and Smallmouth Bass (2014 Lake Management Plan). The long range goal for Walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with no size goal set. The goal for Smallmouth Bass is to maintain a population where half the fish over eight inches in length taken by angling are also over 11 inches in length. The Smallmouth Bass population in this lake is managed under a special regulation: all fish 12-inches or larger must be released, except that one fish over 20 inches may be kept. This was the first of three standard surveys scheduled in the 2014 lake management plan to evaluate Walleye stocking in this lake. The 2016 survey was also done to help determine whether a relaxation of the Smallmouth Bass regulation in 2004 resulted in any decline in the quality of the bass population. Walleye numbers were fairly high in 2016, and their average size was good. The Walleye catch goal was met for the first time since 2001. Walleye taken in gill nets ranged in length from 6.9 to 25.4 inches, with most in the 12-18-inch range. Ten year classes contributed to the catch, including four that were apparently produced naturally. However, the two year classes that contributed the most fish to the catch (2013 and 2011) had both been supplemented, if not produced, by fingerling stocking in those years. Walleye growth had been about average for the area; fish reached a mean length of 16.4 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 16.0 inches. Good Walleye growth was likely due to the presence of fairly high numbers of Yellow Perch, and access to a Rainbow Smelt forage base of unknown size. A creel survey done on Hungry Jack Lake over the summer of 2016 found Walleye anglers enjoying some success. Attainment of the size goal for Smallmouth Bass could not be directly measured in this survey, since angling was not used to sample the population. However, during the 2016 creel survey an estimated 2,113 eight-inch or larger fish were caught by anglers, of which 60% were 11 inches or larger. Almost all Smallmouth Bass bass caught by anglers in 2016 were released, regardless of their size. The bass catch goal was met in 2016, since gill net sets yielded a catch of 1.33 fish/set. That catch was not unusually high for this lake, even though it was near the top of the normal range for a lake of this type. The mean weight for Smallmouth Bass taken in gill nets (1.89 lb/fish) was the highest ever seen in this lake historically. Ten year classes (and fish up to 15 years old) contributed to the 2016 catch, although none appeared to have been particularly strong. Recruitment may have been low, since no fish younger than four years were taken in any sampling gear used. Smallmouth Bass growth had been slow; fish reached a mean length of 7.6 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 9.9 inches. Fair numbers of Northern Pike were found in Hungry Jack Lake in 2016, and those fish were above average in size. The 2016 Northern Pike gill net catch was one of the higher catches observed in this lake since 1984. Most of the fish taken were over 24 inches in length. Six year classes contributed to the catch, but none appeared to have been strong, and few fish younger than four years were taken. Northern Pike growth had been slow; by the end of their third year fish reached an average length of 16.4 inches, compared to an area mean of 18.8 inches. Anglers interviewed during the 2016 creel survey reported catching only a few Northern Pike, and reported releasing all they caught. Hungry Jack is one of just a small number of lakes in this area that support significant Bluegill populations. Bluegill were abundant but small in 2016. The trap net catch was above the normal range for a lake of this type, and was the second highest ever seen in this lake. Most of the Bluegill taken in trap nets were under six inches in length, although fish up to eight inches were sampled. The high catch appeared to be the result of a strong 2012 year class that accounted for 67% of fish taken, with lengths at capture that ranged from 3.7 to 6.3 inches. In all, six year classes, all naturally produced, contributed to the 2016 catch. Bluegill growth had been slow; after four years fish reached a mean length of just 4.6 inches. Yellow Perch were fairly abundant in Hungry Jack Lake in 2016, although most were too small to have been of much interest to anglers. The Yellow perch gill net catch was the highest seen in this lake since 1988, and was well above normal for a lake of this type. Although no Yellow Perch were aged, their length distribution suggested the high catch may have been due to the presence of one unusually strong year class, five to six inches in length in 2016.

Hungry Jack Lake is managed for walleye and smallmouth bass. The long range goal for walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set. The goal for smallmouth bass is to maintain a fishery where half of the stock-sized fish caught by anglers (seven inch or larger fish) are 11 inches or larger, and a population with a minimum gill net catch of 1.0 fish/set. The smallmouth bass population in this lake is managed under a special regulation: all fish 12-inches or larger must be released, except that one fish over 20 inches may be kept. This was the second of two assessments scheduled in the 2005 lake management plan. Objectives for those assessments were to determine whether an increase in the walleye stocking rate (doubled beginning in 2005) resulted in increased walleye abundance, and to determine the effect of the smallmouth bass regulation change implemented in 2004 (increased maximum size limit from 11 to 12 inches). The current plan will be reviewed and revised in March 2014. In 2012, Clean Water Legacy funding allowed areas across the state to do some nearshore fish community sampling to improve our ability to use a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) to identify disturbed aquatic ecosystems. Hungry Jack Lake was selected for nearshore sampling because its accessibility allowed for use of the sampling gears required. Hungry Jack Lake supported modest numbers of medium-sized walleye in 2012. The walleye catch goal for this lake had not been met in the last two assessments (2004 and 2008), and was not met in 2012. The increase in the walleye stocking rate, to 386 lb of fingerlings per stocking, beginning in 2005, did not result in an increase in walleye gill net catches in 2008 or 2012, compared to previous years. However, lower catches may have been observed had the lake not been stocked. Stocked year classes accounted for 13 of the 18 walleye taken in gill nets and trap nets. Small natural year classes had apparently been produced in two years (2010 and 2008). Growth of young walleye had been close to average. Three-year-old fish reached a mean length of 12.1 inches at the end of their third year, compared to a mean of 11.7 inches in similar lakes in the area. Attainment of the size goal for smallmouth bass could not be directly measured in this assessment, since angling was not used to sample the population. Too few fish were taken in gill nets and trap nets to allow us to say that the goal might have been met based on the sizes of those fish. The gill net catch goal for smallmouth bass was not met in 2012; only one fish was taken, resulting in the lowest catch ever seen in this lake. The trap net catch was also low, although it did fall within the normal range for the lake class. Higher numbers of small smallmouth bass were collected in quarter-inch-mesh trap nets and backpack electrofishing gear used for nearshore fish community sampling, so there appeared to have been no danger of the population being lost. The low northern pike gill net catch in 2012 was not unusual for this lake, where the species has appeared in assessment catches only sporadically. No young northern pike were collected in 2012, suggesting reproductive success had been very low. Hungry Jack Lake is one of very few lakes in Cook County to support a significant bluegill population. Bluegill were abundant in 2012, and some were large enough to have been of interest to anglers. The bluegill catch in 0.75-in-mesh trap nets exceeded the normal range for that gear, while the mean weight for bluegill taken in trap nets was about average for a lake of this type. A third of the bluegill taken in trap nets were six inches or greater in length. The bluegill catch was dominated by a strong 2009 year class that accounted for 69% of the trap net catch. Despite their high numbers, growth of three-year-old fish had been close to average for the area; their mean length at the end of their third year (4.8 inches) was close to the area average of 4.9 inches. Sampling of the nearshore fish community was done using quarter-in-mesh trap nets, a 15-ft beach seine, and backpack electrofishing gear. Prior to sampling done in 2012, Hungry Jack Lake was known to have supported, at various times, walleye, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, hybrid sunfish, green sunfish, bluegill, yellow perch, white sucker, northern pike, rainbow smelt, lake trout, sculpin, splake, rainbow trout, golden shiner, black crappie, central mudminnow, johnny darter, and coho salmon. Nearshore sampling in 2012 added no new species to that list.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, and Black Crappie in Hungry Jack. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Hungry Jack. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Hungry Jack has a maximum depth of 71 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hungry Jack is from 2020.

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