Hill River

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Hill River Lake was conducted on June 24th-25th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and site conditions (i.e., dense aquatic vegetation) prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 11 species of fish including no species that are intolerant of disturbance and two species that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow). A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted by LBMA Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead). Bluegill and Black Bullhead comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and Bluegill comprised a majority of the trap net catch by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. In addition to fish sampling, LBMA program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Hill River Lake on June 25th, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 30 survey sites evenly spaced 150 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 82.1 (+/- 2.4) out of 100 possible. A score of 82.1 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Moderately High (80-84.9). Approximately 20 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 60.3 (+/- 6.8) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Poor (50-65.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 87.5 (+/- 0.6) with High (85-91.9) habitat quality. The moderately high shoreline rating as indicated by the Score the Shore survey indicated Hill River Lake's shoreline and associated aquatic habitat are largely undeveloped and intact. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Hill River Lake is near the impairment threshold and vulnerable to future impairment. The FIBI results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Hill River Lake is vulnerable to future impairment. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Clearwater River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Hill River Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Hill River Lake was conducted July 24th - 25th, 2024, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. Data was collected from 10 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 1 was sampled with a 50-foot seine and 3 stations were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Six stations were not sampled with a seine because of dense vegetation, water being too deep or muck being too thick to effectively use a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 12 species of native fish, one non-native species (Common Carp), and three species that are tolerant of disturbance (Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Fathead Minnow). There were no fish species that are intolerant of disturbance captured in this survey. The three most common species captured during the nearshore survey in order of abundance were: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie. The nearshore fish survey data was combined with the standard survey data from early July 2024 to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Hill River Lake is located in the Clearwater River Watershed.

Hill River Lake is a 102-acre, class 34 impoundment of the Hill River located in eastern Polk County approximately six miles northeast of McIntosh. A small dam was built at the outlet in 1935. In response to local complaints about winterkill, the current reservoir was created by the Minnesota Department of Conservation in 1950 to raise the water level about three feet. The dam was rebuilt with a similar head during road reconstruction on 340th Street SE. The fish community was evaluated during a standard survey from July 1st and 2nd, 2024 using four gill nets and nine trap nets. The Northern Pike gill net catch rate of 13 fish per net in 2024 was the highest since 1984 and was almost double that of the average catch rate of 7 fish per net. Pike sampled in 2024 measured between 15 and 34 inches and 34% of Pike sampled were longer than 24 inches. Three Walleyes were caught in gill nets during this assessment, with the max length being 14 inches. The Bluegill trap net catch rate was 11 fish per net. Average size of Bluegills sampled was just over 6.5 inches. Fish over 8 inches were captured, but most Bluegill were less than 7 inches long. Largemouth Bass were not captured during the 2024 survey. Crappie captured ranged from 4 to 11 inches, with an average length of 7 inches. The trap net catch rate for Crappie was 11 fish per net. The Yellow Perch catch rate was 19 fish per gill net. This is significantly lower than the average catch rate of 30 fish per net, however 2024 Perch catch rates were the highest since 1994. Perch averaged almost 6.5 inches in length. Other species sampled included Tadpole Madtom, Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, White Sucker and Pumpkinseed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie in Hill River. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Hill River has a maximum depth of 60 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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