French

French Lake is a 346-acre lake located three miles southwest of the City of Annandale. The lake is highly productive and has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The watershed is large, and land use is primarily cultivated crops (47%). Summer water clarity is relatively poor and was 1.5 feet in July. Additionally, the University of Minnesota has documented a nine-year average Secchi depth of 4.2 feet in July . Dissolved oxygen supported fish down to 11 feet, identical to the 2013 survey. There is a singular DNR owned public access located on the northwest portion of the lake. A standard survey was conducted in 2025 to update information last collected in 2013. Anglers can expect quality fishing for Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. French Lake is infested with Eurasian watermilfoil; please remember to clean, drain, and dry. The Walleye catch in 2025 was the highest ever recorded (9/gill net) and significantly higher than the 2013 survey (2.8/gill net). From 1985-2025 Walleye catches have ranged from 0.7-9.0/gill net, with a historical average of 2.9/gill net. Catch rates were above the expected values for similar lakes. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 10.8-28.1 inches, with a mean length and weight of 16.5 inches and 1.9 pounds. Sixty percent of Walleye sampled were 15 inches or longer and 19% were 20 inches or longer. Walleye grow quickly in French Lake, reaching 15 inches in length by age two. Nine different year-classes were sampled, four of which occurred in years without stocking, indicating some natural reproduction occurs. The 2023 year-class accounted of 76% of the Walleye sampled. Largemouth Bass were sampled via daytime electrofishing on April 23, 2025. A total of 74 bass were sampled in 2.37 hours (31.1/hour). Sampled bass ranged in length from 5.2-19.7 inches, with a mean length and weight of 14.7 inches and 1.8 pounds. Ninety-three percent of Largemouth Bass sampled were 12 inches or longer and 32% were 15 inches or longer. Two previous Largemouth Bass assessments were conducted in May of 2004 (32/hour) and May of 2011 (81/hour). Northern Pike numbers have ranged from 2.2-18.5/gill net, with a long-term average of 5.5/gill net. The 2025 catch was (18.5/gill net) was significantly higher than the 2013 survey (3.2/gill net) and was the highest on record. Catch rates were higher than the expected values for similar lakes. Pike sampled ranged in length from 17-34.5 inches, with a mean length of 23 inches and 2.8 pounds. Fourteen percent of Northern Pike were 26 inches or longer and 3% were 30 inches or longer. The Black Crappie catch (1.8/trap net) was less than both the 2013 survey (2.2/trap net) and the historical average (21.4/trap net). Catch rates were at the low end of what we would expect to see for similar lakes. Black Crappie were also sampled in gill nets (15.5/net), an increase from both the 2013 survey (2.3/net) and the historical average (11.3/net). Crappie sampled ranged in length from 4-13.1 inches, with a mean length of 6.5 inches. Twenty-four percent of Black Crappie sampled were eight inches or longer and 12% were ten inches or longer. Bluegill numbers were (27.8/trap net) similar to the 2013 survey (28.9/trap net) and above the historical average (23.2/trap net). Catch rates were within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Bluegill sampled ranged in length from 3.3-8.6 inches, with a mean length of 5.9 inches. Fifty-six percent of Bluegill sampled were six inches or longer and 2% were longer than eight inches. Other species sampled include: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted on French Lake on July 27, 2016 by the Sauk Rapids DNR Fisheries office. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining, excepting one site where soft sediments prevented the use of a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 16 species of fish, including one species that is intolerant of shoreline disturbance and/or poor water quality (Iowa Darter). The near shore fish survey data is combined with gill net and trap net data from a July 2013 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. The FIBI score for French Lake is above an impairment threshold developed for similar lakes; of note was an absence of tolerant fish species, and high number of small benthic and vegetation-dwelling fish species sampled. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. French Lake is located in the Mississippi River - St. Cloud Watershed.

French Lake is a 332 acre lake located three miles southwest of the City of Annandale. The has a maximum depth of 50 feet and moderate water clarity. French lake has a 5,442 acre watershed primarily composed of cropland (47%), pasture (12.9%) and forest (12.8%). A public access is located on the NW side of the lake. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike, but Bluegill, Black Crappie, White Crappie and Largemouth Bass are also present. Historically, walleye have been managed by fingerling stocking. Since 2003, the lake has been part of a statewide walleye stocking study evaluating the effectiveness of stocking walleye fry, frylings and fingerlings. Surveys have been conducted in several years during the study, most recently in 2011. As part of the study, French Lake was stocked with frylings in four of the last ten years and Walleye fingerlings were stocked in 2007. The walleye catch on French Lake has consistently been low. The catch in 2013 (2.8/gill net) was identical to 2011. Walleye ranged in length from 18.0 to 27.5 inches with an average length and weight of 20.2 inches and 2.9 pounds. Northern Pike numbers in 2013 (3.2/gill net) were higher than 2011 (2.2/gill net) and within the expected range for lakes similar to French Lake. Northern Pike ranged in length from 19.1 to 32.7 inches with an average length and weight of 24.5 inches and 3.3 pounds. Forty seven percent were longer than 24 inches. The Yellow Perch catch rate (3.3/gill net) declined greatly from 2011 (26.7/gill net), but was still within the expected range of values for similar lakes. Yellow Perch ranged in length from 5.5 to 6.6 inches in length with an average length and weight of 6.0 inches and 0.1 pounds. Black Crappie numbers have declined in recent surveys. The 2013 catch (2.2/trap net) declined from the 2011 catch (7.2/trap net), which was the lowest recorded catch at the time. Black Crappie ranged in length from 4.4 to 11.0 inches with an average length and weight of 7.4 inches and 0.22 pounds. The White Crappie catch (0.6/trap net) was similar to 2011 (0.8/trap net). White Crappie ranged in length from 4.6 to 12.5 inches with an average length and weight of 8.8 inches and 0.41 pounds. The Bluegill catch rate (28.9/trap net) increased from 2011 (19.4/trap net), but remained within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Bluegill lengths ranged from 3.5 to 8.5 inches with an average length and weight of 6.0 inches and 0.2 lbs. Largemouth Bass are usually surveyed by electrofishing, which was not done in 2013. However, Largemouth Bass were caught in both gill nets and trap nets. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from 8.2 to 18.4 inches with an average length and weight of 12.6 inches and 1.3 pounds. Other species caught included: Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Hybrid and Pumpkinseed Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and White Crappie 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 50 feet and a mean depth of 16.6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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