Hiniker Pond

How big is Hiniker Pond?

How deep is Hiniker Pond?

What kind of fish can you catch in Hiniker Pond?

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Hiniker Pond (18 acres) is a former gravel pit located in Blue Earth County in the city of North Mankato. The pond was converted from a gravel pit to a city park that provides urban recreational activities for Mankato residents. The city park is located on the south side of the pond and provides access for the public. Hiniker pond is relatively deep in relation to its surface area, having a maximum depth of 24.0 ft. The game fish community consists of northern pike, bluegills, and yellow perch. Hiniker Pond was stocked regularly with walleye fingerlings, yearlings, and adults (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010), with adult northern pike (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009), and with adult bluegills (2007 and 2008). A lake population assessment was conducted the week of 6-13-2012 to monitor the fish community of Hiniker Pond using 1 gill net and 4 trap nets.

The water in Hiniker Pond was clear and had a secchi depth reading of 8.5 ft. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 11.8 ppm at 11.0 ft to 0.1 ppm at 20.0 ft. Thermal stratification of the water column occurred between 12 and 13 ft of depth as evidenced by a drop in temperature from 68.5 to 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Northern pike were captured at a rate of 7.0/gill net, well above historic catch rates for this water body. Length of northern pike ranged from 23.7 to 31.0 inches and averaged 27.0 inches.

Yellow perch catch rates have been highly variable over the last several surveys ranging from 0.0/gill net in 2007 to 35.0/gill net in 1984. In 2012, yellow perch were captured at a rate of 10.0/gill net. Yellow perch ranged in size from 5.6 to 8.2 inches and averaged 6.4 inches. The perch population is likely the main prey base for the northern pike in this system.

Historic catch rates of bluegills have hovered around the 20.0 to 30.0/trap net in the last two decades. The 2012 catch rate of bluegills was 19.0/trap net, which is similar to historic catches. The bluegills ranged from 3.2 to 7.7 inches in length and averaged 6.0 inches, with 85% being greater than 5.5 inches long. This is similar to the 2007 assessment where the majority of the bluegills were between 6.0 and 7.5 inches long.

Walleye stocking appears to be unsuccessful, as no walleye were sampled in either the 2007 or 2012 survey despite stocking efforts. Black crappie, gizzard shad, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, and white crappies were sampled, but in low numbers.

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Are there any state parks near Hiniker Pond?