Overview
Boaters are cautioned that winds in excess of 25 mph can make the lake’s open water hazardous. No-wake buoys are placed near all of the accesses and no-boat buoys are located near the sailboard beach. Similar buoys will be positioned near the beach within Scott Branch upon completion of the campground. To help the developing trophy fishery, special length limits are in effect. Largemouth bass and walleye must be at least 18-inches. Crappie are limited to a 50-fish creel limit. Hillsdale Lake is located within a transition zone between hardwood forests to the east and prairie lands to the west. Wildlife that prefer either habitat can be found around the lake, including deer, beaver, coyote and bobcat.
Smith Branch Map
Features
Forage
Seasonal Movements
Weather
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Moon Phase
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Top Fish Species
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
