Granite

Granite Lake is a 353-acre lake located south of the city of Annandale in Wright County. The lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet with one public access located on the southwest side of the lake. The watershed is relatively small and primarily composed of agriculture, open water, and forest lands. Water clarity was measured at 5.7 feet at the time of the survey, which lies within the range of values previously recorded in August by MN DNR and Pollution Control agency staff. A standard survey was conducted in 2024 using gillnets, trap nets, and boat electrofishing to assess population trends of popular game species targeted by anglers. Granite Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike and both species appear to be doing well from 2024 survey results. The Walleye gill net catch in 2024 was low (3.7 fish/net) compared to recent surveys conducted in 2014 and 2008. However, the catch rates observed lie within the expected range for lakes similar to Granite Lake. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 8 to 24 inches and averaged 16 inches and two pounds. Fifty-two percent of the Walleye caught were 15 inches or greater. Walleye growth is average taking four years to reach 15 inches. The Northern Pike gillnet catch (6.7 fish/net) was similar to the 2014 survey and slightly higher than the long-term average (5.6 fish/net). Northern Pike lengths ranged from 20 to 33 inches, with an average length and weight of 24 inches and two pounds. Only 14% of Northern Pike caught were longer than 26 inches. Largemouth Bass were surveyed during the daytime using boat electrofishing on May 23, 2024. The daytime catch was 82/hr which is above the management goal of 50/hr. One hundred sixty-eight bass were sampled and ranged in length from six to 19.5 inches with an average length of 12 inches and 1.2 pounds. Forty-eight percent of the bass caught were ? 12 inches and 25% were ? 15 inches. Catches of Black Crappie were low for both gill nets and trap nets (2.3/gill net and 1.0/trap net), but the average size was good. Black Crappie sampled ranged in length from five to 13.0 inches and averaged just under 10.0 inches. Crappie populations are known to be a boom-and-bust species meaning that their populations fluctuate frequently and therefore no concerns are warranted at this time. The catch of Bluegill in 2024, was average for the lake class and similar to surveys dating back to 1991. Bluegill sampled ranged in length from three to eight inches with an average length of five inches. Based on Bluegill results, the size structure is relatively poor and likely not a destination for anglers if they want to catch quality sized Bluegill. Yellow Perch catch rates have been declining since 2006 and results from the 2024 survey continued to mimic this trend. Yellow Perch lengths ranged from six to 10 inches, with an average length of 6.5 inches. Yellow Perch were relatively abundant in the early 1980s but have since been in a slow decline similar to the trends observed statewide. Other species sampled in low numbers during the survey included: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead. Anglers can expect good opportunities to catch bass, pike and sunfish. Although you might have to do some sorting to keep a meal of sunfish. Walleye fingerlings are stocked during the fall of even numbered years, but they tend to be more of an incidental catch, but if you catch them, they tend to be good size.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Granite Lake was conducted on September 11-12, 2018 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of fish including no species that are intolerant of disturbance and two species that are tolerant of disturbance (Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2014 population assessment 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, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). 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 indicates Granite Lake is in poor health as indicated by an FIBI score 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.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Granite Lake was conducted on September 11-12, 2018 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of fish including no species that are intolerant of disturbance and two species that are tolerant of disturbance (Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2014 population assessment 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, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). 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 indicates Granite Lake is in poor health as indicated by an FIBI score 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.

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

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

Granite has a maximum depth of 34 feet and a mean depth of 17.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Granite is from 2024.

Yes — Granite has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and flowering rush. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.