Hanska Lake

How big is Hanska Lake?

How deep is Hanska Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Hanska Lake?

What are the closest cities to Hanska Lake?

Are there boat launches on Hanska Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Hanska Lake?

Hanska is a large (1,794 acres) and shallow lake located near the City of Hanska in Brown County. A large state-owned access with a double cement boat ramp is located on the southeast shore. A smaller state-owned access with a cement boat ramp is located at the northwest end of the lake - north of Godahl. A moderate-sized county access with a cement boat ramp is located at the northwest end of the lake - on the north shoreline. Fishing piers are found at the two accesses on the northwest end and at the Hanska County Park on the east end of the lake. Hanska has 21 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 16 feet. There are dredged sections of the lake at the southeast and the northwest ends of the lake, but much of the mid-portion of the lake is closer to 6 feet in depth. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Hanska is a class 41 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Washington and Long (Grove City), both in Meeker County.

Hanska Lake occasionally suffers from winterkill and fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest event. The last severe winterkill was in 2001. Species that are more intolerant of low winter oxygen levels include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Channel Catfish and these species tend to experience greater mortality during harsh winters. Hanksa is often aerated during the winter to provide small refuge areas for fish during severe winters. Aeration systems are present at the southeast and northwest ends of the lake. Anglers are encouraged to stay far back from the open water and thin ice signs during the winter.

Walleye were sampled in good numbers in 2021, with fish averaging 16 inches in length and maxing out at 23 inches. Walleye tend to do well in the turbid waters of Hanska Lake. Trolling crankbaits should do the trick as submergent vegetation is often sparse at this lake. A leech under a bobber or a jig and a minnow are other local favorite techniques for catching Walleye. In recent years, Black Crappie have become a larger part of the angler's catch as their numbers have increased during the last two surveys (2017 and 2021). The fishing pier at the county park is a great place to try a tube jig tipped with a small minnow to catch crappie in the spring.

Channel Catfish were abundant in 2021 with gill netted catfish averaging 14 inches in length. The longest Channel Catfish sampled in 2021 was just under 28 inches. Shore fishing towards sunset with a piece of chicken liver laying on the bottom should provide some action from a hungry channel cat. Bluegill were not abundant in 2021, but large sized fish were definitely present. Almost half the Bluegill sampled in the trap nets were 8 inches or longer, with maximum length being an impressive 10 inches. Try a teardrop jig with a waxworm along the shorelines, up under the tree branches, for both Bluegill and crappie in the spring. You may even get a nice perch using this technique. Although Yellow Perch were not sampled in good numbers, a few 9 to 10 inch fish were present that could be considered a bonus catch while fishing Hanksa Lake.

Other species that anglers may encounter include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Of interest, this was the first time that Freshwater Drum were sampled at Hanska. As a new member of the fish community and opportunistic forager, Freshwater Drum will provide angling opportunities and make great table fare for anglers who take the time to fillet carefully and remove the red tissue along the fish's lateral line.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Are there any state parks near Hanska Lake?