Minnesota · Pope County
Ann Lake Fishing guide
Ann Lake covers 370 acres in Pope County, Minnesota, reaching 14 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.6 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4per gill net23"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 13 fish
2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 181 fish
2018Lengths measured · 92 fish
2010Largemouth bassPresent7per gill net8"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 21 fish
2022Lengths measured · 179 fish
2018Lengths measured · 146 fish
2010BluegillPresent30.7per gill net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 125 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 33 fish
2023Lengths measured · 92 fish
2022Lengths measured · 323 fish
2018Lengths measured · 40 fish
2010CrappiePresent36per gill net6"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1006 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 898 fish
2023Lengths measured · 108 fish
2022Lengths measured · 241 fish
2018Lengths measured · 121 fish
2010Yellow perchElite fishery180.3per gill net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 572 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 32 fish
2023Lengths measured · 540 fish
2022Lengths measured · 302 fish
2018Lengths measured · 209 fish
2010Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Ann Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.6 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 14-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 1.6 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 14-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 27" | 7" | — |
| 2022 | 24" | 15" | 28" |
| 2018 | 23" | 15" | 28" |
| 2010 | 19" | 14" | 29" |
| 2005 | 24" | 17" | 31" |
| 2000 | 15" | — | 9" |
| 1995 | 22" | — | 34" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 185,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 150,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 185,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 185,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 185,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 185,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Trap netting results suggested that winterkill severity was low and restorative stockings were not warranted. Gamefish species present included Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie were particularly abundant.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ann Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ann Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Ann Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ann Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Reno · 3,809 ac · 2.6 mi
- Pelican Lake · 518 ac · 4 mi
- Strandness Lake · 92 ac · 4.4 mi
- Malmedal Lake · 199 ac · 4.9 mi
- Turtle Lake · 218 ac · 5.4 mi
- Maple Lake · 831 ac · 5.9 mi
- Lake Minnewaska · 8,050 ac · 6 mi
- Villard Lake · 544 ac · 7.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ann Lake?
Ann Lake reaches 14 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ann Lake?
Ann Lake covers 370 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ann Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ann Lake average 1.6 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ann Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Ann Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Ann Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ann Lake has one public access site: Ann Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Ann Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Ann Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ann Lake in 2023, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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