Hyland

Hyland Lake is an 84-acre lake with an average depth of 5 feet and maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake is part of the Hyland Lakes Park Reserve in the city of Bloomington in southern Hennepin County. Due to shallow water depths, an aerator is operated during winter months to prevent winter kill. Hyland is actively managed for Largemouth Bass, with secondary emphasis on Bluegill. Hyland also supports catchable populations of Black Crappie. Public water access is provided by the Three Rivers Park District on the northwest side of the lake off East Bush Lake Road (up to 3 vehicle/trailer parking spaces, overflow parking is also available). Surface use restrictions require the operation of electric motors. A standard survey (9 trap nets/4 gill nets) was completed on Hyland Lake during the week of 6/6/2023 to monitor water quality and fish populations. Water color was brown/green, with low-moderate water clarity, measured at 5.0 feet during the time of this survey. Despite low-moderate water clarity, oxygen was 13.4 parts per million (ppm) at a bottom depth of 8 feet, meaning fish were able to use the entire water column during our summer survey. Hyland Lake is one of the few metro lakes that does not appear on the infested waters list. High numbers of Largemouth Bass were sampled during spring 2023 with nighttime boat electrofishing (139 fish/hour). There were 163 bass sampled, with an average length of 10.2 inches and the largest measured at 19.8 inches. The current population appears well balanced (a middle ground between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Despite high numbers, multiple fish were sampled greater than 18 inches, demonstrating the potential for these fish to reach desirable sizes. While small bass may be numerous, the opportunity to catch large (>18") fish in Hyland Lake remains high. Very high numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (94.3/net), well above the expected catch rate of similar metro lakes. There were 849 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2023 survey, with an average length of 5.8 inches, and the largest measured at 7.7 inches. Less than 7% of the total Bluegill sampled were greater than 7 inches. Although Bluegill are abundant, relatively few large fish can be found in Hyland Lake. Low numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (2.3/net) and trap nets (4.1/net) below the expected catch rate of similar metro lakes. Historically, Hyland Lake has always had low numbers of Black Crappie. There were 46 Black Crappie sampled during the 2023 survey, with an average length of 6.7 inches, and the largest measured at 9.1 inches. The current Black Crappie population consists of low numbers and small sizes and likely provides little interest to anglers. Other fish species sampled in low abundance were Black Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Walleye, and White Sucker.

Hyland Lake is an 84-acre shallow lake in Bloomington. The lake is located entirely within a Three Rivers Park. A boat launch and fishing pier are located on the northwest shore of the lake. A walking trail leads along the shore of lake, providing ample shore fishing and recreational opportunities. Parking for vehicles with trailers is available with a fee; however, all other vehicle parking is free. No gas motors are permitted on Hyland; boating is limited to electric motors only. Canoes and other boats can be rented from the park. Hyland Lake supports healthy populations of good-sized Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Twenty-inch bass were sampled during the nighttime sampling during the spring of 2018. Eighteen percent of the bass were larger than 16 inches. Fish were present in all length groups between 6 inches and 21 inches, showing that the fish are consistently reproducing. The gill net catch rate of Walleye is at an all-time high, and the fish tend to be larger. The average size of Walleye sampled in 2018 was 18.1 inches and 2.18 pounds. Walleye in Hyland Lake originated from planned DNR stocking, and the fish do not naturally reproduce in this lake, typical for most metro lakes containing walleye. Bluegill and Black Crappie are abundant in Hyland, although the fish tend to be smaller. Eighty-three percent of the trap-netted Bluegill were between 5.0 and 6.5 inches, and only 5% exceeded 6.5 inches. Ninety percent of the gill netted Black Crappie were between 6.5 and 7.5 inches, and only 5% exceeded 7.5 inches. Other species present in the lake include Black Bullhead, Yellow Perch, and White Sucker, which serve primarily as the forage base for predator species, but also provide angling opportunity.

Hyland is a shallow, productive 84-acre lake located in Bloomington, in Hennepin County. The entire lake is within the Hyland Lake Park Reserve, operated by Three Rivers Park District. There is a fishing pier and boat launch (a fee exists for boat trailer parking), though gas-motorized boats are not allowed to operate on the lake. There are also multiple locations to fish from shore. Water quality in Hyland Lake has improved over the years, in part because of Three Rivers Park District's efforts to control curly-leaf pondweed. Since 2011, declines in total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a have been documented. Additionally, Secchi disk measurements indicate water clarity has increased over the past few years. However, the lake's shallow, fertile characteristics still make it prone to occasional small-scale fish die-offs related to thermal or oxygen stress. This lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill, yet it also contains some Black Crappie and Walleye. Past management has included: hybrid (tiger) Muskellunge stocking from 1988-1999 and a Largemouth Bass no-harvest slot of 12-16 inches from 1981-1993. Because of the lake's thermal and oxygen limitations (which included a partial winterkill in 1989-90), these efforts did not establish viable Muskellunge populations or better-quality Largemouth Bass fishing. A standard population assessment consisting of gill nets and trap nets was conducted in 2013 to characterize the game fish community. Bluegill was the most abundant species in the assessment. At 35.5 per trap net, abundance was high and ranked near the 75th percentile value compared with other similar lakes. Hyland Lake has had consistently abundant Bluegill populations, but with variable size structures. In 2013, the size structure was weighted toward larger fish, where 42% were between 7.0 and 7.5 inches. Bluegill ranged from 3.4-8.1 inches, averaging 6.7 inches and weighing 0.2 lbs. Bluegill in Hyland Lake are long-lived; 26% were older than 10 years and the oldest was age 15. Growth was similar to the statewide average, where Bluegill were 6.9 inches by age 5. Black Crappie were low in trap-net abundance (0.63/net) and moderately low in gill-net abundance (3.3/net). Crappie ranged from 4.0 to 9.4 inches, averaging 5.7 inches and 0.2 lbs. Historically, Black Crappie abundances have been moderately low in Hyland Lake. Over the previous 5 assessments, crappie catch has ranged from 1.0 to 5.5 per gill net, averaging 3.7/net. Given the small sample size of Black Crappie in this assessment, ages were only determined for a few fish. Similar to Bluegill, several crappie were long-lived. Two reached age 12; however the larger of these two was only 8.8 inches. Since 2004, Hyland Lake has regularly been stocked with Walleye fingerlings and/or yearlings on even-numbered years. Despite this, Walleye abundance is low. In the previous assessment (2008), 5 Walleye (1.3 per gill net) were sampled. In the 2013 assessment, 11 Walleye (2.8 per gill net) were sampled. In this most current 2013 assessment, all Walleye were exclusively from the two most recent stockings: fingerlings in 2010 (age 3 fish) and yearlings in 2012 (age 2). These represented 75% and 25% of the total, respectively. No fish stocked in 2004, 2006, or 2008 were sampled. Walleye ranged from 10.7 to 16.3 inches, averaging 13.8 inches. Mean weight was 0.8 lbs, moderately low when compared to other similar lakes. No Northern Pike were sampled in the 2013 assessment. Other fishes sampled in low abundance were Black Bullhead, Green Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass. Passive sampling gear, such as the trap and gill nets used here, are not effective methods for collecting Largemouth Bass, so the 2013 assessment values likely under-represents bass abundance. Electrofishing is the typical method for Largemouth Bass assessments but was not conducted. Beginning in the winter of 2012-13, Three Rivers Park District has a permit to pump water from Hyland Lake for snow-making operations. This could affect water levels and ice thicknesses. Be aware and heed any signs and information related to Hyland Lake winter access/travel.

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

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

Hyland has a maximum depth of 12 feet and a mean depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hyland is from 2023.

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