Hamrey

Itasca County

Near Alvwood

DOW: 31091100

Black CrappieGood · 68Northern PikeGood · 56Rock BassGood · 55

A 67-acre lake near Alvwood in Itasca County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1991.

Fish Species (11)

Black Crappie

Good · 68

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.90 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 16, 1978	0.50	-	0.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 56

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.21 lbs

Catch rate: 5.0 per gill net · typical 2.8–8.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	5.00	-	2.21 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 17, 1991	1.50	-	1.85 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	3.50	-	1.13 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Good · 55

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.60 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 16, 1978	0.25	-	0.60 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Good · 51

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.50 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 16, 1978	1.50	-	1.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 51

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 7.0 per gill net · typical 1.5–23 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	0.50	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	7.00	-	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 16, 1978	3.00	-	0.45 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 46

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.12 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 1.3–6.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	2.00	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	4.50	-	0.31 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	0.50	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Average · 34

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.12 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per trap net · typical 5.7–40.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	2.50	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	1.00	-	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 16, 1978	5.75	-	0.41 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Poor · 20

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	1.00	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (3)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 62

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 11.0 per trap net · typical 1–8.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	1.00	-	0.73 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 17, 1991	11.00	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.80 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.5–11 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	0.33	-	0.80 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 16, 1978	11.00	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 17, 1991	0.75	-	0.50 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1978	0.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best black crappie lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Rock Bass

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

July 17, 1991THE YEB WAS THE ONLY SPECIES SAMPLED WITH CATCH RATES EXCEEDING STATE AND LAKE CLASS MEDIANS. A TRAP NET CPUE OF 11.0/LIFT EXCEEDED THE THIRD QUARTILE…

THE YEB WAS THE ONLY SPECIES SAMPLED WITH CATCH RATES EXCEEDING STATE AND LAKE CLASS MEDIANS. A TRAP NET CPUE OF 11.0/LIFT EXCEEDED THE THIRD QUARTILE (9.9/LIFT) FOR YEBS OF LAKE CLASS #28. THE MEDIAN LENGTH OF 44 YEB WAS 9.0 INCHES. BLHS OF THIS SIZE MAY BE OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST. A GILL NET CPUE OF 5.0/LIFT FOR NOP IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE LAKE CLASS MEDIAN FOR THIS SPECIES. OF 21 FISH AGE 43% WERE DETERMINED TO BE THREE YEAR OLDS. GROWTH RATES FOR AGE III FISH WERE DETERMINED TO BE NEAR NORMAL. BLG CPUE VALUES WERE WELL BELOW LAKE CLASS MEDIANS. AGE II, III AND IV WERE REPRESENTED IN THE SAMPLE WITH AGE III FISH ACCOUNTING FOR 70% OF THE TOTAL. GROWTH OF AGE III BLGS WAS DETERMINED TO BE WELL BELOW AVERAGE. ALTHOUGH NO WAES WERE CAPTURED IN THE 1991 ASSESSMENT THEIR PRESENCE HAS BEEN RECORDED IN PREVIOUS TEST NETTINGS (1959 AND 1978). HAMREY LAKE HAS NO HISTORY OF WAE STOCKING.

August 16, 1978Bullhead catches higher than state and local medians. All other fish populations within normal limits for this type of lake.

Bullhead catches higher than state and local medians. All other fish populations within normal limits for this type of lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Hamrey?

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

Is there public access at Hamrey?

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

How deep is Hamrey?

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

When were the main sport fish in Hamrey last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hamrey is from 1991. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Hamrey have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Hamrey?

No — Hamrey has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.