Ann

Ann Lake is a popular fishing lake located three miles south of Howard Lake in southern Wright County. The 386-acre lake has a maximum depth of 18.5 feet and a ten-year average water clarity of 3.3 feet. There is one public access located on the west side. The Walleye fishery of Ann Lake has been managed by stocking since the mid-1970s. Walleye fry were stocked every other year from the mid-1970s until 2012 with supplemental fingerling stocking on a contingency basis. After multiple failed fry stockings from 2003-2010, the primary stocking strategy changed to fingerling stocking (1 lb./littoral acre) every other fall starting in 2013. While DNR does not stock fry in the lake anymore, the lake association supplementally stocked Walleye fry on occasion. Most recently in 2016 and 2018. In 2025, 296,500 surplus Walleye fry from the New London Fish Hatchery were stocked in Ann Lake. Unfortunately, no young of the year (YOY) Walleye were sampled in targeted electrofishing surveys conducted on September 24 and October 9). Indicating that the fry stocking was likely not successful. Fingerling Walleye were then stocked in the fall of 2025 in accordance with the pre-established management plan.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Ann Lake was conducted on July 23, 2025, by Sauk Rapids fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish, none of which are intolerant of disturbance, and four that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner and Least Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey suggests that the Ann Lake fish community is adversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score that is below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Ann Lake is a popular fishing lake located three miles south of Howard Lake in Wright County. The 386-acre lake has a maximum depth of 18.5 feet and a ten-year mean water clarity of 3.3 feet. There is one public access located on the west side. The Walleye fishery of Ann Lake has been managed by stocking since the mid-1970s. Walleye fry were stocked every other year from the mid-1970s until 2012 with supplemental fingerling stocking on a contingency basis. After multiple failed fry stockings from 2003-2010, the primary stocking strategy changed to fingerling stocking (1lb./LA) every other fall starting in 2013. While DNR does not stock fry in the lake anymore, the lake association supplementally stocked Walleye fry on occasion. Most recently in 2016 and 2018. In 2023, 303,000 surplus Walleye fry from the New London Fish Hatchery were stocked in Ann Lake as an experiment to see if a year class could be produced. Unfortunately, only three young of the year (YOY) Walleye were sampled, indicating that the fry stocking was not successful. Fingerling Walleye were then stocked in the fall of 2023 in accordance with the pre-established management plan.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Black Crappie 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 18.5 feet and a mean depth of 10.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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.