Hogback Lake

How big is Hogback Lake?

How deep is Hogback Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Hogback Lake?

Are there boat launches on Hogback Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Hogback Lake?

Hogback Lake is a designated trout lake and is located just over 12 miles east of Isabella, Minnesota off of USFS Rd. # 172 (Wanless Rd.). The access is a back-down gravel ramp on the northern end of the lake. The access is located in a U.S. Forest Service Campground, which has three campsites, several picnic areas, hiking trails, and an accessible fishing pier. There is one remote campsite located on the northern shore of the south basin. Hogback Lake is one of the most heavily used trout lakes in the Finland Area as it is easily accessible and the lake has a history of producing nice trout. Fishing pressure is presumed to be high throughout the year. Consult the current Minnesota Fishing Regulations for rules applicable to designated trout lakes.

Hogback Lake has an area of 40 acres and is comprised of two lake basins separated by a narrow and shallow channel. The southern basin has a maximum depth of 43.0 feet and comprises 14 acres of the lake, while the northern basin reaches a maximum depth of 24.0 feet. Water clarity is good with visibility down to 19 feet in the light green water for both basins. The entire shoreline is under federal ownership and is covered by a mixture of deciduous and coniferous forest with a small portion on the western shore of the northern basin covered in wetland. The aquatic and riparian plant community was diverse with 21 types present in the lake. The lake bed consists of gravel, rubble, and muck.

The 2016 Splake catch was average to similar lakes in the Finland Area. The average length of Splake from gill nets was 12.16 inches and had an average weight of 0.87 pounds. The largest Splake sampled in the gill nets was 19.49 inches long and weighed 2.43 pounds. There were four year class of Splake found in the sampled based on scale aging and growth is average for compared to other lakes in northeastern Minnesota. The Splake population in Hogback Lake is maintained by annual fall stockings of 4,000 fingerlings.

A total of two Rainbow Trout were caught in the 2016 survey, which was below average of the Finland area. They both measured 11.02 inches long and weighed 0.45 pounds. The two previous surveys had gill net catches for Rainbow Trout near average for the area. Hogback Lake is stocked annually in the spring with 1,000 Rainbow Trout yearlings to maintain the Rainbow Trout population.

The 2016 survey was the second consecutive survey to sample Yellow Perch in Hogback Lake. Gill nets sampled 32 Yellow Perch, which was above average relative to similar lakes. A total of 239 Yellow Perch were caught in the trap nets. The small mesh trap nets sampled an additional 256 Yellow Perch. The average length of Yellow Perch sampled was 6.39 inches and average weight was 0.11 pounds. The largest Yellow Perch measured 8.50 inches long and weighed 0.26 pounds. There were two year classes of Yellow Perch based on scale aging and growth of Yellow Perch was fast for the Finland Area. Yellow Perch are an undesirable fish species in Hogback Lake and often will outcompete the trout in designated trout lakes.

A single White Sucker was caught in the gill nets and measured 15.55 inches (1.55 pounds). This was the first time White Sucker have been sampled in any gear type in Hogback Lake since the 2002 reclamation. White Sucker are also an undesirable fish species to have in a designated trout lake as they will compete with the trout for food. Other species sampled in six small mesh trap nets sets in 2016 were Fathead Minnow, Northern Redbelly Dace, and Iowa Darter.

Hogback Lake has a good population of Splake and an average population of Rainbow Trout compared to other Finland Area trout lakes. Both species of trout have the populations maintained by annual stocking and both species are targeted by anglers throughout the year. As the populations of Yellow Perch and White Sucker continue to grow, the quality of the trout fisheries in Hogback Lake may start to decline.

What is the average air temp for Hogback Lake?

Are there any state parks near Hogback Lake?