French

A standard survey was conducted at French Lake July 9, 2018, to monitor the lake's fish population. French is a class 30 lake (Schupp's Lake Classification System) and net catches were compared to similar lakes around the state. The 2009 lake management plan (LMP) listed Bluegill and Northern Pike as primary management species, while Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass were ranked as secondary species at French. In 2018, a total of 12 species, plus Hybrid Sunfish, were sampled in the gill nets (GN) and trap nets (TN). The dissolved oxygen concentration fell below 2.0 mg/l at 7 feet, indicating a lack of suitable oxygenated habitat below this depth on this date. Water clarity was fair with a secchi disk reading of 5.5 feet. French Lake has experienced partial winterkills in the past and was opened to liberalized fishing as recently as 2008 due to low oxygen levels and expected winterkill. Fish populations on French would be expected to fluctuate widely based on the frequency and severity of the latest winterkill. Immigrants from connected Stahls Lake are believed to quickly help restore fish populations at French following severe winterkills. French Lake is mostly undeveloped and the abundant lily pads make for an enjoyable angling adventure. Small boats should have no problem navigating through the culvert between French and Stahls Lakes, unless water levels are unusually low. Gill nets sampled 1 Walleye for a catch rate of 0.3/net, which was below the lake's normal range. Historic catch rates from 1973 to 2018 (n=8) were all low, ranging from 0.0 to 2.0/net with an average of 0.8. The Walleye, captured in the GN's, was 19.4 inches long. The fish was most likely an immigrant from Stahls Lake, which wass routinely stocked with Walleye in recent years. Past GN catch rates indicate that few Walleye move out of Stahls and into French. Gill nets sampled high numbers of Northern Pike (46) for a catch rate of 11.5/net, which was above the lake's normal range and the second highest catch ever recorded at French. The 2009 LMP's long range goal (>5.0 and 1.8 and 24.6 and <59.6) was not met. The 2008 TN catch rate was 63.6/net. Catch rates from 1973 to 2018 (n=10) were highly variable, ranging from 3.0 to 92.0/net, with an average of 33.6. In 2018, trap netted Bluegill were 3.2 to 7.9 inches long with an average of 5.3. Approximately 5% of the trap net catch was 7 inches or longer, indicating a poor size structure. Data indicated that multiple year classes were present. Every spring, Bluegill are targeted by anglers fishing the channel between French and Stahls Lakes. Gill nets and trap nets sampled a total of 4 Largemouth Bass, meeting the LMP's long range goal of maintaining the presence of this species. Largemouth Bass from GN's and TN's were 11.6 to 14.2 inches long. Electrofishing is the preferred sampling method for Largemouth Bass but was not conducted due to the boats inability to fit through the culvert that connected French to Stahls Lake. Largemouth Bass anglers might expect some decent action at French Lake. Gill nets sampled low numbers of Yellow Perch (1) for a catch rate of 0.3/net, which was below the lake's normal range. The 2008 catch rate was 1.5/net. Catch rates from 1973 to 2018 (n=8) were mostly low, ranging from 0.0 to 7.0/net with an average of 2.6. The gill netted Yellow Perch was 5.7 inches long. Yellow Perch were not aged and data indicated inconsistent recruitment. Over the years, moderate to high numbers of Northern Pike have likely limited the adult Yellow Perch population at French Lake. Trap nets sampled low numbers (1) of Common Carp for a catch rate of 0.1/net, which was below the lake's normal range. The 2008 catch rate was 0.2/net. Historic catch rates (n=10) from 1973 to 2018 were mostly low, ranging from 0.0 to 2.3/net with an average of 0.3. All historic TN catch rates were below the lake's normal range, except 1977 (2.3/net). In 2018, the trap netted Common Carp was 24.0 inches long. Gill nets also sampled low numbers of Common Carp (1) for a catch rate of 0.3/net, which was below the lake's normal range. Historic GN catch rates (n=8) were all low, ranging from 0.0 to 0.8/net with an average of 0.2. The gill netted Common Carp was not measured. Low numbers of Common Carp over the years have likely benefited the quality submergent plant community present at French Lake. Gill nets sampled moderate numbers (86) of Black Bullhead for a catch rate of 21.5/net, which was within the normal range for this type of lake. Black Bullhead were the most abundant fish sampled in the GN's. The 2008 catch rate was 5.0/net. Historic GN catch rates from 1973 to 2018 (n=8) were variable, ranging from 0.0 to 159.0/net with an average of 57.3. Gill netted Black Bullhead were 6.9 to 12.7 inches long with an average of 8.9. Trap nets sampled low numbers (3) of Black Bullhead for a catch rate of 0.3/net which was below the lake's normal range. Trap netted Black Bullhead were 8.3 to 10.5 inches long with an average of 9.6. Black Bullhead catch rates have not been high since 1990 (153.8/GN), likely reflecting reduced winterkill frequency over the last 28 years. Additional species sampled in the standard gear included; Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

A resurvey was conducted at French Lake in 2008 to evaluate the lake's physical, chemical, biological characteristics. A total of 14 different species of fish were sampled, plus hybrid sunfish. Some fishing occurred in the channel between French and Stahl's, but overall fishing pressure was light during this survey. French Lake has a history of taking partial winterkills. The lake was opened to liberalized fishing during the 2007-2008 winter because dissolved oxygen tests indicated that a partial winterkill was likely. French's lakeshed (690 acres) was dominated by row crop agriculture. The lakeshed to lake ratio was 16:1. Most of the shoreline remained undeveloped, with forest and marshland being the dominant coverage's. Aquatic vegetation was fairly diverse (17 varieties) and plentiful. Coontail, cattail, yellow waterlily, and bladderwort were all ranked as abundant. Detritus was the dominant shoalwater substrate. Dissolved oxygen dropped below 2 mg/l at 12 foot during netting week. Water clarity was good, with a secchi disk reading of 9.3 feet in early July. Gill nets sampled 4 walleye for a catch rate of 1.0/net, which was within the normal range for this type of lake. The 1998 catch rate was also 1.0/net. Walleye were 13.2 to 24.7 inches long averaging 19.4 inches. Walleye were 3 to 8 years old with 2 year-classes present. Fish were likely migrants from Stahl's Lake. Gill nets sampled 18 northern pike for a catch rate of 4.5/net, which was within the normal range for this type of lake. The 1998 catch rate was 9.3/net. Northern pike were 21.5 to 35.4 inches long averaging 24.7 inches. Northern pike were 2 to 5 years old with 4 year-classes present. Winter spearers often congregate on French Lake because of the better water clarity. Gill nets sampled 6 yellow perch for a catch rate of 1.5/net, which was within the normal range for this type of lake. The 1998 catch rate was 6.0/net. Yellow perch were 5.4 to 5.7 inches long averaging 5.7 inches. Yellow perch were 2 to 4 years old with 3 year-classes present. Spring night-time electrofishing sampled 8 largemouth bass for a catch rate of 13.5/hr of electrofisher on-time. The catch rate in 2003 was 25.3/hr. Catch rates (n=5) from 1991 to 2008 ranged from 0.0 to 25.3/hr, averaging 12.3 inches. Largemouth bass were 13.5 to 17.5 inches long averaging 15.8 inches. Trap nets sampled largemouth bass up to 20.5 inches in length. Largemouth bass were 3 to 9 years old with 5 year-classes present. Gill nets sampled 3 carp for a catch rate of 0.8/net, which was within the normal range for lakes of this type. The 1998 catch rate was also low at 0.5/net. Carp were 20.3 to 25.6 inches long averaging 23.3 inches. The trap net catch rate was 0.2/net. Gill nets sampled 20 black bullhead for a catch rate of 5.0/net, which was below the normal range for this type of lake. The 1998 catch rate was 18.8/net. Black bullhead were 9.1 to 11.3 inches long averaging 10.6 inches. The trap net catch rate was 0.2/net, which was the lowest ever recorded at French Lake. Trap nets sampled 7 yellow bullhead for a catch rate of 0.8/net. Trap nets sampled 2 black crappie for a catch rate of 0.2/net, which was below the normal range for this type of lake. The 2008 catch rate was the lowest ever recorded at French Lake. The 1998 catch rate was 3.4/net. Black crappie were 6.6 to 7.8 inches long averaging 7.2 inches. Gill nets sampled 35 black crappie for a catch rate of 8.8/net, with fish lengths ranging from 5.4 to 7.9 inches. Black crappie were 3 to 5 years old with 3 year-classes present. Growth was slow. Trap nets sampled 572 bluegill for a catch rate of 63.6/net, which was above the normal range for this type of lake. The 1998 catch rate was 35.9/net. Bluegill were 3.3 to 6.7 inches long averaging 5.2 inches. Bluegill were 2 to 6 years old with 5 year-classes present. Quarter inch trap nets sampled young-of-the-year: black bullhead (1), black crappie (7), bluegill (1), largemouth bass (20), northern pike (2), and yellow bullhead (3). A tadpole madtom (1) was also trap netted.

French Lake, McLeod County, is a 94-acre lake with a maximum depth of 23 feet. The 1998 lake survey utilized standard lake survey gill nets and trap nets. Special 1/4 inch mesh, trap nets were used to assess natural reproduction. French Lake net catch data were compared to other lakes with a similar lake classification (class 30). The lake management plan lists bluegill and largemouth bass as the primary management species and northern pike, black crappie, and yellow perch as secondary management species.During the 1998 survey, Hutchinson Fisheries personnel set four 250-foot experimental gill nets and nine standard 3/4 inch mesh double-frame trap nets. The three most abundant species in gill nets were black bullhead, northern pike, and yellow perch. The three most abundant species in trap nets were bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, and black crappie.Trap nets sampled 323 bluegills, for a catch rate of 35.9 per net. This compared to historical catch rates of 92.0 in 1990 and 58.8 in 1985. Bluegills ranged in length from 30 to 9 inches with an average length of 6.3 inches.Gill nets sampled 37 northern pike, for a catch rate of 9.3 per net. Historic catch rates have been highly variable at 5.8 in 1990, 7.5 in 1985, 38 in 1980, and 1 in 1973. Northern pike ranged in length from 13.3 to 27.9 inches in the 1998 survey. Average length for northerns was 18.7 inches.Gill nets sampled 24 yellow perch for a catch rate of 6.0 per net. Yellow perch ranged in length from 5.3 to 8.3 inches with an average length of 6.1 inches.Trap nets sampled 31 black crappies for a catch rate of 3.4 per net. Catch rates for black crappies has been in the normal range for lakes of this type. Black crappies ranged in length from 6.6 to 9.1 inches with an average length of 8.1 inches.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Pumpkinseed in French. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

French has a maximum depth of 23 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in French is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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