Ann

Ann Lake is a 653-acre lake located in Kanabec County managed primarily for Walleye and Northern Pike. The water level is maintained by a DNR dam on the north end of the lake. Lakeshore development is relatively light due largely to the wildlife management area on the southeast and northeast shores. Shallow water substrates are dominated by sand but water quality can be an issue. Like most shallow fertile lakes, Ann is subject to fairly heavy algae blooms in summer which limit water clarity. An additional concern is curly-leaf pondweed densities in late spring and early summer. There is currently only one public boat access on the lake with limited parking. Although natural Walleye reproduction occurs, the lake is stocked with Walleye fry in even numbered years. Overall, the fishing on Ann Lake for many species should be good, with opportunities to catch Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Channel Catfish. The 2021 Walleye catch of 1.9/gill net was slightly below the long-term average on the lake, but the average fish sampled was 17.8 inches, about two inches longer than the long term average. Northern Pike populations tend to be low but the size range of 20-31 inches sampled in 2021 should provide harvest opportunities below and above the north central pike zone protected slot (22-26 inches). Black Crappie numbers vary from year to year, but the 2021 gill net catch rate was the highest recorded for Ann Lake. Lengths ranged from 4.5 to 11 inches. Bluegill numbers remained within the average for this lake type, with a good average length of 7.1 inches and fish up to 9 inches present. The Largemouth Bass catch rate was 30.5 per hour in 2021, similar to 31.7 per hour caught in 2015. Mean length was 11.3 inches with a range of 5.4 to 16.2 inches. As an added bonus for anglers, the Channel Catfish population appears to be near an all-time high based on historical information.

Ann is a 653 acre lake in Kanabec County managed primarily for Walleye and Northern Pike. The water level is maintained by a Division of Fish and Wildlife sheet piling dam on the north end of the lake. Lakeshore development is relatively light due largely to the wildlife management area on the southeast and northeast shores. Shallow water substrates are dominated by sand but water quality can be an issue. Like most shallow fertile lakes, Ann is subject to fairly heavy algae blooms in summer which limit water clarity. An additional concern is curly-leaf pondweed densities in late spring and early summer. There is currently only one public boat access on the lake with limited parking. Although natural Walleye reproduction likely occurs, 300 pounds of Walleye fingerlings are stocked every fall. Ann Lake receives high fishing pressure at times, especially when the panfish bite is hot. Although the abundance of Black Crappie and Bluegill is normal compared to similar lakes, both have had higher catch rates in previous assessments. Nonetheless, anglers can expect quality fishing for both species. During the May netting crappies averaged 9.6 inches with fish over 12 inches present. Bluegills ranged up to 10.6 inches with a third of the catch exceeding 8 inches. The Northern Pike catch rate increased compared to the 2010 assessment but remains below the normal range for the lake type. Northerns ranged from 17.5 to 31.2 inches. The bulk of the pike captured were young fish less than 23 inches in length. Walleye abundance continues to trend downward despite the switch to annual fingerling stocking in 2010. However, the catch rate is still typical for the lake class. Lengths ranged from 9.3 to 23.3 inches with a 1.1 pound average. Trends in both Walleye and Northern Pike abundance have closely followed that of the Yellow Perch population. One fourth of the perch catch exceeded 8 inches in length, an acceptable size for some anglers.

Ann is a 653 acre lake in Kanabec County managed primarily for walleye and northern pike. The water level is maintained by a Division of Fish and Wildlife, sheet piling dam on the north end of the lake. Lake shore development is relatively light due largely to the wildlife management area on the southeast and northeast shores. Shallow water substrates are dominated by sand but water quality can be an issue. Like most shallow fertile lakes, Ann is subject to fairly heavy algae blooms in summer which limit water clarity. An additional concern is curly leaf pondweed densities in late spring and early summer. There are two public boat accesses on the lake but parking is limited at both. Although natural walleye reproduction likely occurs, 300 pounds of walleye fingerlings are stocked every fall. Ann Lake receives high fishing pressure at times especially when the panfish bite is on. Anglers can expect quality sized bluegill and black crappie. Though their numbers have climbed only slightly since the 2005 sampling, catch rates of both species are within the normal range when compared to similar lakes. Few crappies over 10 inches were sampled and only 17% of the catch exceeded 9 inches. Bluegills ranged up to 9.7 inches, with over half exceeding 7.5 inches. The northern pike catch rate decreased since the 2000 gill netting and fell below the normal range for the first time since 1998. Northerns ranged from 17.4 to 36.4 inches with over half the catch was larger than 24 inches. Walleye abundance, though down from the 2005 sample, was typical of both the lake and the lake class. Lengths ranged from 8.1 to 21.9 inches with a 1.01 pound average. Trends in both walleye and northern pike abundance have closely followed that of the yellow perch population. With relatively few individuals exceeding 8 inches, perch function mostly as a forage base for walleye and northerns. Other species present in the lake include black, brown, and yellow bullhead, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white sucker, and pumpkinseed sunfish.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, and Bluegill in Ann. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Ann. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Ann has a maximum depth of 17 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ann is from 2021.

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