Holy Water Lake

How big is Holy Water Lake?

How deep is Holy Water Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Holy Water Lake?

What are the closest cities to Holy Water Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Holy Water Lake?

Holy Water Lake is located in the northwestern corner of Aitkin County approximately 7 miles west of Hill City. The lake is 77 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake is completely surrounded by county land and although there is no designated public access on the lake, access for small boats or canoes can be gained through a county forest road on the east side of the lake. Because of the lakes unique location, it receives little fishing pressure and has been surveyed periodically since the initial investigation in1973. There were 9 different fish species documented in the 2015 standard survey. Game fish sampled included walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and sunfish.

It is thought that adult bluegill sunfish were introduced to the lake by anglers sometime in the mid 1990's and eventually established a population. No bluegill were observed in the first two surveys conducted on the lake in 1973 and 1988. The species was first documented in the lake in 2005 during a routine population assessment. At this point the bluegill population was already suffering from over population as growth rates were found to be below normal and average size was a mere 4.8 inches. A subsequent survey in 2010 showed similar results and in 2015, bluegill catch rates doubled again to 238/trap net.

Beginning in 2014, walleye fingerlings were stocked in the lake with hopes that they will survive and help offset the overabundance of bluegill and increase the size structure of that population. It is possibly they may create a fishery as well. The lake will continue to be stocked with walleye fingerlings in alternate years and an evaluation of the fishery will be conducted again in 2020. Three juvenile walleye were caught in trap nets in 2015, indicating some survival.

Northern pike have been captured in high numbers compared to similar lakes in all of the previous surveys, but the size structure has always been poor. In 2015, however, (3 of 22) pike sampled were longer than 24". This marks the first time in survey history that any pike longer than 24" have been observed. The presence of a large-bodied prey item like white suckers suggests there should be potential to produce quality sized predators. Anglers are encouraged to release the larger pike as they often have a positive benefit on the fish community.

Yellow perch, white sucker, pumpkinseed sunfish, hybrid sunfish, golden shiner and brown bullhead were also present in Holy Water Lake.

What is the average air temp for Holy Water Lake?

Are there any state parks near Holy Water Lake?