Hinz

Stearns County

Near Clearwater

DOW: 73000500

Hybrid SunfishExcellent · 99Black CrappieExcellent · 75BluegillGood · 64

A 15-acre lake near Clearwater in Stearns County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1983.

Fish Species (10)

Hybrid Sunfish

Excellent · 99

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 4.3 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	1.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	4.25	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Excellent · 75

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 29.8 per trap net · typical 0.7–4.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	3.00	-	0.22 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	29.75	-	0.28 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 64

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 59.3 per trap net · typical 2.9–41.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	3.50	-	0.09 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	59.25	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 57

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.15 lbs

Catch rate: 6.5 per gill net · typical 2.7–9.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	6.50	-	2.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	0.25	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 5.5 per trap net · typical 1.5–7.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	1.00	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	5.50	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 44

Average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.50 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	2.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	0.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 40

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 1.9–19.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	2.00	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

Green Sunfish

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	0.50	-	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (2)

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

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 57

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.55 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per trap net · typical 1.4–7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	14.00	-	0.52 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 7, 1983	5.25	-	0.55 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 36

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.70 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.5–5.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 7, 1983	0.25	-	0.70 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best hybrid sunfish lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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").

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

July 7, 1983Northern pike abundance (6.5/gillnet) is average for this area. Six age classes were sampled, four of them showing slow growth. Age 6 fish are most ab…

Northern pike abundance (6.5/gillnet) is average for this area. Six age classes were sampled, four of them showing slow growth. Age 6 fish are most abundant. Largemouth bass numbers are at least average (2.5/gillnet). Growth was below average and age 3 fish dominated of the three ages sampled. Bluegill numbers are high (59.3/trap net) for this area. Three age classes were sampled with ages 2 and 3 making up most of the catch. Black crappie abundance is also high (29.8/trap net). Age 3 fish dominated the three age classes sampled. Growth is good for both bluegills and crappies. The pumpkinseed (5.5/trap net), hybrid sunfish (4.3/trap net) and green sunfish (0.5/trap net) catches was about average for area lakes. Yellow perch numbers (2/gillnet) were below average for this area. Bowfin (0.8/trap net) and yellow bullheads (5.3/ trap net) have average abundance, while brown bullheads (0.3/trap net) have low abundance compared to their local median.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Hinz?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Pumpkinseed in Hinz. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Hinz?

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

How deep is Hinz?

Hinz has a maximum depth of 35 feet and a mean depth of 15.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Hinz last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hinz is from 1983. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Hinz have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Hinz?

No — Hinz has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.