Hungry Jack Lake

How big is Hungry Jack Lake?

How deep is Hungry Jack Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Hungry Jack Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Hungry Jack Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Hungry Jack Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Hungry Jack Lake

Are there boat launches on Hungry Jack Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Hungry Jack Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Hungry Jack Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Hungry Jack Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

Hungry Jack Lake is currently managed for Walleye and Smallmouth Bass (2014 Lake Management Plan). The long range goal for Walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with no size goal set. The goal for Smallmouth Bass is to maintain a population where half the fish over eight inches in length taken by angling are also over 11 inches in length. The Smallmouth Bass population in this lake is managed under a special regulation: all fish 12-inches or larger must be released, except that one fish over 20 inches may be kept. This was the first of three standard surveys scheduled in the 2014 lake management plan to evaluate Walleye stocking in this lake. The 2016 survey was also done to help determine whether a relaxation of the Smallmouth Bass regulation in 2004 resulted in any decline in the quality of the bass population.

Walleye numbers were fairly high in 2016, and their average size was good. The Walleye catch goal was met for the first time since 2001. Walleye taken in gill nets ranged in length from 6.9 to 25.4 inches, with most in the 12-18-inch range. Ten year classes contributed to the catch, including four that were apparently produced naturally. However, the two year classes that contributed the most fish to the catch (2013 and 2011) had both been supplemented, if not produced, by fingerling stocking in those years. Walleye growth had been about average for the area; fish reached a mean length of 16.4 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 16.0 inches. Good Walleye growth was likely due to the presence of fairly high numbers of Yellow Perch, and access to a Rainbow Smelt forage base of unknown size. A creel survey done on Hungry Jack Lake over the summer of 2016 found Walleye anglers enjoying some success.

Attainment of the size goal for Smallmouth Bass could not be directly measured in this survey, since angling was not used to sample the population. However, during the 2016 creel survey an estimated 2,113 eight-inch or larger fish were caught by anglers, of which 60% were 11 inches or larger. Almost all Smallmouth Bass bass caught by anglers in 2016 were released, regardless of their size. The bass catch goal was met in 2016, since gill net sets yielded a catch of 1.33 fish/set. That catch was not unusually high for this lake, even though it was near the top of the normal range for a lake of this type. The mean weight for Smallmouth Bass taken in gill nets (1.89 lb/fish) was the highest ever seen in this lake historically. Ten year classes (and fish up to 15 years old) contributed to the 2016 catch, although none appeared to have been particularly strong. Recruitment may have been low, since no fish younger than four years were taken in any sampling gear used. Smallmouth Bass growth had been slow; fish reached a mean length of 7.6 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 9.9 inches.

Fair numbers of Northern Pike were found in Hungry Jack Lake in 2016, and those fish were above average in size. The 2016 Northern Pike gill net catch was one of the higher catches observed in this lake since 1984. Most of the fish taken were over 24 inches in length. Six year classes contributed to the catch, but none appeared to have been strong, and few fish younger than four years were taken. Northern Pike growth had been slow; by the end of their third year fish reached an average length of 16.4 inches, compared to an area mean of 18.8 inches. Anglers interviewed during the 2016 creel survey reported catching only a few Northern Pike, and reported releasing all they caught.

Hungry Jack is one of just a small number of lakes in this area that support significant Bluegill populations. Bluegill were abundant but small in 2016. The trap net catch was above the normal range for a lake of this type, and was the second highest ever seen in this lake. Most of the Bluegill taken in trap nets were under six inches in length, although fish up to eight inches were sampled. The high catch appeared to be the result of a strong 2012 year class that accounted for 67% of fish taken, with lengths at capture that ranged from 3.7 to 6.3 inches. In all, six year classes, all naturally produced, contributed to the 2016 catch. Bluegill growth had been slow; after four years fish reached a mean length of just 4.6 inches.

Yellow Perch were fairly abundant in Hungry Jack Lake in 2016, although most were too small to have been of much interest to anglers. The Yellow perch gill net catch was the highest seen in this lake since 1988, and was well above normal for a lake of this type. Although no Yellow Perch were aged, their length distribution suggested the high catch may have been due to the presence of one unusually strong year class, five to six inches in length in 2016.

Are there any state parks near Hungry Jack Lake?