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17-acre pond near Blue Earth County. The lake tops out around 21 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The outline encloses 17 acres, worked by 0.7 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. 56% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Blue Earth County claims this one. If the bite dies, Troost Pond is 2 mi to the south.
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 21 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 21 ft. Shoreline break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (9 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts sauger in skinny water — 4 to 18 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 21 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 21 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for winter sauger. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
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 | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 21 ft, wintering in 6 to 21 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 21 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
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 | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts white bass in skinny water — 2 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 21 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 21 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for winter white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) covers the summer program.
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 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 5 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Hiniker Pond also holds crappie (6 to 21 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), freshwater drum (6 to 21 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), rainbow trout (6 to 21 ft in summer), green sunfish (2 to 12 ft in summer), yellow bullhead (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 18 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 3,000 | — |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 3,000 | — |
* 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 Hiniker Pond specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Hiniker Pond is about 21 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, freshwater drum, common carp, rainbow trout, green sunfish, yellow bullhead on Hiniker Pond.
Shoreline break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. 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, Hiniker Pond was most recently stocked 2025 with 3,000 rainbow trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Hiniker Pond 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.
Troost Pond 2 mi · Dorothy 3 mi · Lions 3 mi · Eagle (North) 6 mi · George 8 mi · Lake Washington 9 mi · Ballantyne 9 mi · Mills 10 mi · Emily 10 mi · Loon 10 mi · Duck 10 mi · Crystal 11 mi
See how Hiniker Pond stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota · best sauger lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Blue Earth County fishing maps (14 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.