Florence

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted by Hinckley fisheries staff on Florence Lake on July 14, 2025. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish: Banded Kilifish, Blacknose Shiner, Bluegill, Bowfin, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Tadpole Madtom, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. The nearshore survey data is combined with standard gill and trap netting survey data from previous Florence Lake surveys to calculate a Fish IBI (FIBI) score and helps assess aquatic life in Florence Lake. The FIBI score for Florence Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Florence Lake is a 141-acre lake in eastern Isanti County located two miles south of Cambridge and is within the Rum River Watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake is 90% littoral (15 feet or less, 127 acres). Water clarity is good with Secchi depths to 8 feet. Its color is light green to clear. There is an inlet from Elms Lake on the northeast shore (Elms Creek) and an outlet (Isanti Brook) on the southeast shore that flows into the Rum River. There is a connected wetland area on the north side of the lake, north of Glenwood Drive Northeast, that is approximately 5 acres and is used as a spawning and nursery area. A Vegetation Survey in 2007 showed that vegetation is dense, growing to a depth of 11 feet, that contributes to periodic partial winterkills. Differing levels of winterkill severity have affected and will continue to affect the fish community. Curlyleaf pondweed, a non-native invasive species, was observed at 70% of locations sampled in 2007. Substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel with a few areas of muck. The lake is highly developed and has approximately 50 homes. A state-owned access is located on the northwest corner of the lake. It has a gravel parking lot that accommodates 12 vehicles with trailers. There have been a total of 7 fish surveys on Florence Lake. These surveys were conducted in 1955, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1991, 2013, and 2025. Additional surveys have occurred during spring after suspected partial winterkills. The current planned survey frequency is approximately every 12 years. Fish species best suited to Florence Lake include Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Black Crappie. Angers fishing Florence Lake can expect high numbers of small to medium size Northern Pike and Bluegill, moderate numbers of small to medium size Largemouth Bass, and an occasional nice Black Crappie. Boat electrofishing surveys to evaluate Largemouth Bass relative abundance and size structure were conducted in May 2013 at night and May 2025 during the day. The 2025 catch rate was 25/hour which was much lower than the 2013 catch rate of 102/hour. A lower 2025 catch rate may be attributed to daytime electrofishing in 2025 versus nighttime electrofishing in 2013. Lengths of Largemouth Bass in 2025 ranged from 2.4 to 16.3 inches and averaged 8.2 inches. Largemouth Bass over 18 inches have not been sampled in any survey. Florence Lake has had below average proportions of bass greater than 12 inches and average proportions of bass over 15 inches in both surveys. A total of 93 Northern Pike were sampled in gill nets in 2025 which resulted in a catch rate of 16/net. This is also the highest catch rate recorded for the lake which has averaged 10/net over the previous 6 surveys. Research indicates pike catch rates over 7.5/net are undesirable, as they are usually associated with higher density populations having poor size structure and slow growth. Higher pike densities can also have detrimental effects on stocked walleye survival and perch populations. Perch are often a primary prey species. Lengths of pike caught in 2025 ranged from 13.3 to 30.3 inches and averaged 20.2 inches. While this average length is short, pike over 28 inches have been sampled in all surveys. Pike catch rates have increased each of the past three surveys, while the proportion of pike over 28 inches has decreased each of the past three surveys. Overall, anglers that fish Florence Lake for pike can expect to catch high numbers of small to average sized pike with a chance of catching one over 28 inches. Bluegill catch rates were high in trap nets in 2025. Florence has a history of high Bluegill numbers. The trap net catch in 2025 of 41/net was similar to the average of 42/net. Bluegill lengths in 2025 ranged from 3.2 to 9.1 inches and averaged 5.3 inches in trap nets. A 9.5 inch bluegill was sampled in a gill net. Anglers targeting Bluegill on Florence Lake can expect to catch high numbers with some fish exceeding 8 inches. The Black Crappie gill and trap net catch rates were below average. The gill net catch in 2025 was 4.7/net, which compares to the average of 6.8/net. The trap net catch was 0.4/net, which compares to the average of 3.2/net. Crappies caught in 2025 ranged from 4.1 to over 13.2 inches and averaged 5.5 inches. Of the 31 crappies caught in 2025, all were smaller than 6 inches except one 12 and one 13 inch fish. Crappies over 8 inches were not sampled in either the 2013 or 1991 surveys. Overall, anglers fishing for Black Crappie in Florence Lake can expect lower overall numbers but may be rewarded with the occasional fish over 12 inches. Walleye fry have been stocked when available on 8 of the past 19 years and 5 of the past 7 years. In 2025, the walleye gill net catch was 1.7/net. Lengths ranged from 14.2 to 15.9 inches and averaged 15.2 inches. No natural reproduction is suspected as all 10 Walleye caught in 2025 were age-2 and stocked as fry in 2023. In the 2013 survey, all six Walleyes caught were age-2 and stocked as fry in 2011. No other stocked year classes were sampled in either survey. Yellow Perch catch rates were low in 2025, and the third lowest observed. At total of 17 perch were caught in gill nets for a catch rate of 2.8/net, which compares to the average of 5.2/net. Lengths ranged from 5.9 to 9.3 inches and averaged 7.1 inches. While fish over 8 inches are present, the current perch population and its average size is likely too low and small to interest angers. Other fish species sampled in 2025 consisted of Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead.

Florence is a semi-fertile 141 acre lake located in eastern Isanti County. A state owned access is located on the northwest corner of the lake. The maximum depth is 26 feet but 90 percent of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. Vegetation can become dense in the shallower areas of the lake and likely facilitates the occasional winterkills that occur on the lake. Differing levels of winterkill severity have affected and will continue to affect the fish community in Florence Lake. Following winterkill, gamefish populations are reestablished by stocking as part of the lake management plan and by immigration from nearby water bodies. The most recent winterkill event occurred in early 2011. While it was not a complete kill, fish species less tolerant of low oxygen levels such as Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Walleye were likely the most affected. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Northern Pike catch rates were above average and sizes were below average when compared to similar lakes. Captured Northern Pike ranged from 13.6 to 33.0 inches. Walleye are present in Florence Lake, but catch rates are below average when compared to similar lakes. Walleyes present during the survey were a result of fry stocking in the spring of 2011. With no natural reproduction, future Walleye abundance is dependent on the success of Walleye stockings. Spring electrofishing found high numbers of Largemouth Bass. The 47 Largemouth Bass collected averaged 9.8 inches and 0.66 pounds with lengths ranging from 6.3 to 17.7 inches. Most of the Bass collected in the survey were the result of spawning events that took place after the winterkill in 2011. Black Crappie catch rates in Florence Lake were low when compared to similar lakes. The largest Black Crappie collected was 9.4 inches and the average length was 7.0 inches. Bluegill catch rates were very high when compared to similar lakes and the catch consisted of many quality sized fish that should provide a great fishing opportunity. The largest Bluegill collected in the survey was 8.0 inches and over half of the Bluegills observed were greater than 7 inches. Yellow Perch abundance was low and Black Bullhead abundance was slightly above average when compared to similar lakes. The short term reduction in fish abundance as a result of the winterkill has meant faster growth rates for the surviving fish and their newly hatched offspring. Strong recruitment and fast growth following that winterkill event have resulted in an abundant population of catchable sized game fishes. Florence Lake will likely continue to be affected by winterkills of varying magnitude which could limit fishing potential in the future.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, and Rock Bass in Florence. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Florence. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Florence has a maximum depth of 26 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Florence is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Florence in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.