Of the five Minnesota streams that drain directly into the Mississippi River Lake Pepin watershed (MRLP), Hay Creek is likely the best known. With its abundant brown trout population, one-hour proximity to the Twin Cities, and multiple easements creating easy public access, Hay attracts both local and metro-area anglers, who can easily stop by for an afternoon of casting. Restoration efforts over the past several decades have bolstered both the quality of its fish habitat and its correlating popularity.