Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest April 27, 2023
Ann Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ann Lake average 18.05 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 27, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–7 inches. In Pope County, Minnesota, Ann Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 7.2 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Ann Lake
10 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Ann Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Ann Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ann Lake average 18.05 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 27, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–7 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ann Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-04-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 169.12 | 0.37 lb |
| Common Carp | 137.39 | 3.89 lb |
| Black Crappie | 59.59 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 57.23 | 0.27 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.05 | 0.53 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-04-27 survey
This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Trap netting results suggested that winterkill severity was low and restorative stockings were not warranted. Gamefish species present included Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Yellow…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ann Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AnnFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AnnFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — AnnPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Ann Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ann Lake average 18.05 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 27, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–7 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 10 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Ann Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Ann Lake is dated April 27, 2023. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Ann Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Ann Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Ann Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ann Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Ann Lake
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