Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 7, 2025
French Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at French Lake average 36.82 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. In Wright County, Minnesota, French Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 4.3 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 French Lake
15 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 French 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 French 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 French Lake average 36.82 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades French 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 53.71 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 36.82 | 1.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.56 | 0.26 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.12 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.28 | 0.1 lb |
| White Crappie | 10.08 | 0.26 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-07 survey
French Lake is a 346-acre lake located three miles southwest of the City of Annandale. The lake is highly productive and has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The watershed is large, and land use is primarily cultivated crops (47%). Summer water clarity is relatively poor and was 1.5 feet in July. Additionally, the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for French Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FrenchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FrenchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FrenchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in French Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at French Lake average 36.82 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 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 French Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for French Lake is dated July 7, 2025. 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 French Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for French 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 French Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades French 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 French Lake
Top-rated places to stay near French Lake
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