[4] Its name is a translation of the Ojibwe name for the river and Fish Hook Lake, Pugidabani.

[5] The Fish Hook River is considered to begin in the city of Park Rapids, at a dam forming the 2-mile-long (3 km) Fish Hook River Reservoir, which was constructed to supply hydropower at the site of rapids on the river.

It flows into the Shell River from the north in Hubbard Township.

[4][7][8][9][10][11][12] The Fish Hook River flows in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion, which is characterized by conifer and hardwood forests on flat and rolling till plains and outwash plains.

[13] The river's fish population is dominated by suckers, but walleye and northern pike are also present.