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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
35-acre lake near Becker County. The lake tops out around 25 ft. The depth chart comes from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1962, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Hanson draws 35 acres inside 1 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 49% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 0.4 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Becker County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Cotton, 2 mi west of here.
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 25 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 8 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (25 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 6 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for black bullhead tight to the bank in 2 to 9 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 25 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (25 ft) | |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (25 ft) |
Hanson carries 4 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 25 ft down.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 1,000 | — |
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (adults) | 170 | — |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (fingerlings) | 253 | — |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 1,000 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Hanson specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Hanson is about 25 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1962, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target rainbow trout, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, black bullhead on Hanson.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Hanson was most recently stocked 2025 with 1,000 rainbow trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Hanson is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cotton 2 mi · Height of Land 3 mi · Tamarack 3 mi · Pickerel 3 mi · Perch 3 mi · South Twin 6 mi · Little Toad 6 mi · Rock 6 mi · Sieverson 6 mi · Flat Lake 7 mi · Hungry 7 mi · Rice 7 mi
See how Hanson stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best crappie lakes in Minnesota · best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Becker County fishing maps (99 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.