Hiawatha

Hiawatha is small, 53-acre lake, located in South Minneapolis. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 33 feet, and about half the lake is 15 feet deep or less. Minnehaha Creek flows through Lake Hiawatha, with the steam's inflow and out flow along the southern shore of the lake. Minneapolis city park land surrounds the lake, and the shoreline is undeveloped. Minneapolis City Parks maintains one fishing pier, and one public beach on Lake Hiawatha. No boat ramp is present. There are no gas motors allowed on Lake Hiawatha, per city ordinance, however the lake is popular with canoers and kayakers. A Standard Survey was conducted during the summer of 2025 to monitor the gamefish populations In 2025, the gamefish community was composed of Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. Common Carp are also abundant in the lake, and provide an alternative recreational fishery, which many anglers enjoy on Hiawatha. Good numbers of Northern Pike were present in the 2025 survey, and the fish tended to be small-to-medium-sized. Northern Pike ranged in length from 16.1 to 27.8 inches, with an average size of 21.1 inches and 2.06 pounds. With 64% of the catch being smaller than 22 inches, Hiawatha could be a good spot for anglers who are interested in harvest. Since 2018, anglers in this management zone can keep up to 10 Northern Pike. Only 2 fish over 26 inches are allowed, and all between 22 and 26 inches must be released. Bluegill and Black Crappie were present in about average numbers for this type of lake. Both species of fish tended to be on the small side, however a few larger Black Crappie were sampled. While only 27% of the Black Crappie exceeded 8 inches, the largest fish measured 11.0 inches in length. Only 1 Bluegill out of the 84 fish sampled by trap net exceeded 7 inches. Although the panfish tend to mostly be smaller in size, their abundance could make for good action while enjoying a day on the fishing pier. Common Carp were sampled in about average numbers for this type of lake, and a range of sizes of fish were present in the 2025 sample. Carp ranged from 13.6 to 24.0 inches, with an average size of 18.3 inches and 2.85 pounds. Carp fishing is popular among local residents, as the fish are fun and easy to catch, and take the bait of canned corn, which is cheap and easy to buy. Interestingly, three Walleye were sampled in the 2025 survey. The fish are not stocked in the lake and likely moved into Hiawatha via Minnehaha Creek, which drains from Lake Minnetonka and the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Walleye are stocked in those water bodies. The three fish ranged in length from 16.3 to 21.2 inches in length. Other species present in this survey include Black Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

Lake Hiawatha is a 53-acre lake located north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in the city of Minneapolis. A park and golf course, operated by Minneapolis Park and Recreation, completely surround the lake. Lake Hiawatha has a diverse fish community consisting of black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch, and yellow bullhead. The lake is primarily managed for northern pike and secondarily for black crappie. Northern pike is the top predator in Lake Hiawatha and has greatly increased in numbers in the last two years. Forty-seven pike were collected in gill nets in the 2007 assessment compared to 4 in 2005. Ages ranged from 1 to 8, with most fish in the 2002, 2003, and 2005 year classes. Mean length of captured northern pike was 21.1 inches and 2.3 pounds and the largest was 31.0 inches and 8.1 pounds. Although walleye are not stocked into Lake Hiawatha, 2 were collected during this assessment. Both fish were 20 inches in length and were approximately 3 pounds apiece. It appears that walleye from Lake Nokomis migrated via Minnehaha Creek into Lake Hiawatha. This was also the case in 2005 when four adult walleye were sampled in Lake Hiawatha. Bluegill, black crappie, and yellow perch are the most abundant panfish. In 2007, black crappie catch (8.8/trap net) was higher than in 2005 (2.1/trap net). In the current survey, black crappie mean length in trap nets was 6.9 inches inches and mean weight was 0.18 pounds with the largest measuring 11.3 inches and 0.8 pounds. The 2004 and 2005 year classes dominated the population and growth was normal for the area. Bluegill abundance is moderately low and has remained relatively stable over the last 12 years. In 2007, 114 bluegill were captured in 9 trap nets (12.7/trap net). Mean length and weight was 6.0 inches and 0.2 pounds and the largest collected was 7.4 inches and 0.3 pounds. Approximately 77% of the bluegill sampled were 6 inches or larger. The size structure of this population has improved as mean length and weight was 5.5 inches and 0.1 pounds in 2005 and approximately 73% of the bluegill were smaller than six inches. Five age-classes (2 - 6) of bluegill were fairly evenly represented in the sample and growth was below average for all age classes based on similar lakes in the West Metro Area. The relative abundance of yellow perch has increased in the past two years (from 1.5/gill net in 2005 to 6.7/gill net in 2007). Mean length for all perch was 6.9 inches and lengths ranged from 5.5 to 10.3 inches. Approximately 12% of the sampled population was 8 inches or greater than in length. Ages 2 through 7 were represented in the sample and growth was slower than average for all age classes based on similar lakes in the West Metro Area. Hybrid sunfish and green sunfish were sampled in low abundance (n = 4 and 2, respectively). Hybrid sunfish averaged 4.9 inches and green sunfish averaged 6.1 inches. Pumpkinseed (n = 73) averaged 4.7 inches and weighed, on average, 0.1 pounds. Black bullhead are abundant in Lake Hiawatha. Catch averaged 44.3 per gill net and 31.0 per trap net. Gill net catch was down from 2005 (155.0/net), but trap net catch was up (7.7/net). Black bullhead averaged 6.3 inches in length and average weight was 0.1 pounds (range = 0.1 - 0.3 pounds). Other species sampled in low abundance were bowfin (dogfish) (n = 4), common carp (n = 5), golden shiner (n = 2), largemouth bass (n = 1), white sucker (n = 7), and yellow bullhead (n = 12).

Lake Hiawatha is a 53-acre, class 30 lake located north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in the city of Minneapolis. A park and golf course, operated by Minneapolis Park and Recreation, completely surround the lake. Hiawatha Lake has a diverse fish community consisting of black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch. Walleye and northern pike are the top predators in Lake Hiawatha. Although walleyes are not stocked into Lake Hiawatha, four age-4 walleyes, averaging 19.2 inches and 2.5 pounds, were sampled during this assessment. Because the ages of these fish match up with the 2001 Lake Nokomis fingerling stocking, migration via Minnehaha Creek is likely occurring. Similar to the 2001 assessment, northern pike exhibited low abundance during this assessment. Sampled pike (including two trap net caught pike) averaged 22.2 inches and 2.4 pounds. Lake Hiawatha has a panfish community consisting of bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseeds, hybrid sunfish, green sunfish and yellow perch. Of the 181 bluegills captured in both gill and trap nets, approximately 73% of the fish sampled were below 6.0 inches, with none exceeding 7.5 inches. Approximately 19% of the 21 crappies sampled were above 8.0 inches, with the largest fish measuring 9.7 inches. Additionally, four yellow perch averaging 6.7 inches were sampled. Pumpkinseed, green, and hybrid sunfish were sampled in relatively low numbers. Pumpkinseed and hybrid sunfish both averaged approximately 5.0 inches while green sunfish averaged a mere 3.4 inches. Black bullheads, bowfin, common carp, and white suckers were sampled in varying numbers. Displaying high numbers (155.0/gill net), black bullheads comprised nearly 92% of all fish caught in gill nets. Bowfin and common carp displayed moderate abundance while white suckers were abundant when compared to similar lakes.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Green Sunfish, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch in Hiawatha. 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 Hiawatha. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Hiawatha has a maximum depth of 33 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hiawatha is from 2025.

Yes — Hiawatha has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.