Minnesota · Isanti County
Francis Lake Fishing guide
Francis Lake covers 269 acres in Isanti County, Minnesota, reaching 7 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 6 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassFair numbers33.7per hr (electrofishing)4"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 46 fish
2024Lengths measured · 45 fish
2024Lengths measured · 19 fish
2013Lengths measured · 13 fish
2003Northern pikeJust a few2.5per gill net31"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 24 fish
2024Lengths measured · 66 fish
2013Lengths measured · 55 fish
2003Lengths measured · 6 fish
1993Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few21.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 196 fish
2024Lengths measured · 50 fish
2013Lengths measured · 10 fish
2003Lengths measured · 4 fish
1993Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieFair numbers18.9per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 237 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 237 fish
2024Lengths measured · 961 fish
2013Lengths measured · 43 fish
2003Lengths measured · 12 fish
1993Yellow perchElite fishery75.7per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 463 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 463 fish
2024Lengths measured · 419 fish
2013Lengths measured · 361 fish
2003Lengths measured · 176 fish
1993Rates 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 Francis Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.9 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 7-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 3.9 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 7-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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19" | 36" | — |
| 2013 | 18" | 37" | 20" |
| 2003 | 13" | 32" | 25" |
| 1993 | — | 33" | — |
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:
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Buzzbait
3/8–1/2 oz buzzbait with a clacker blade and skirted single hook
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 600,000 fry · 2,650 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Lake Francis is a 301-acre lake in southern Isanti County located four miles west of Isanti, MN, and is within the Rum River watershed. The lake is shallow, extremely fertile, and turbid. It has a maximum depth of seven feet and an average depth of four feet. There are two inlets on the west side and one outlet at the dam in the northeast corner that flows east to the Rum River. Water clarity is low and is typically less than 2 feet. The low water clarity limits aquatic plant growth. A recent aquatic vegetation survey found no plants at 84% of its 61 sample sites. Due to the shallow turbid water and high water temperatures, partial fish kills are common in the spring and summer. During the winter months, low oxygen levels resulting from the decomposition of organic matter can also result in partial fish kills. Fish migration from the Rum River during high flow events repopulate the lake. Substrates are primarily sand and muck. The lake is highly developed on its east and west shorelines. A small, shallow, gravel, county owned public access is located on the southeast corner of the lake with parking for six rigs.
Anglers visiting Francis Lake can expect angling success for numerous species. The Bluegill catch rate was average, but larger fish between 8 and 9 inches were present. Black Crappies had high catch rates, and fish over 10 inches were present. Largemouth Bass sampled electrofishing were low in number, but twenty percent were over 15 inches. Bass up to 19.7 inches were sampled. Eighty-six percent of the Northern Pike sampled by gillnets exceeded 24 inches with sixty-six percent being 30 inches or better, indicating good angling opportunities for quality sized pike. A 35 and 36 inch pike were sampled. Yellow Perch catch rates were high; however, most perch were smaller than most anglers would prefer to keep.
Read the full DNR narrative
The 2024 Bluegill trap net catch rate of 21/net was the highest observed. Bluegill ranged from 4.7 to 9.5 inches with a 6.1 inch average. The 2013 catch rate was lower (6.9/net), while the average size was higher (8.1 inches). Bluegills over 9 inches were sampled in 2013 and 2024, while Bluegill over 8 inches were not observed in previous surveys.
The 2024 Black Crappie gillnet and trap net catches were lower in 2024 when compared with those from 2013. The gill net catch was 11/net in 2024 and compares to 243/net in 2013, while the trap net catch was 19/net in 2024 and compares with 33/net in 2013. The 2013 Crappie catch rates were the highest ever. Although catch rates were lower with both gears in 2024, catch rates were high when compared to other area lakes. Crappie ranged in length from 3.8 to 11.3 inches. Crappies over ten inches have been sampled in each of the past four surveys, while crappies over 12 inches were sampled in 2003.
Nighttime electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was conducted in May of 2003, 2013, and 2024. In 2024, bass were sampled at a rate of 34/hour, compared to 7/hour in 2013 and 3/hr in 2003. Although the catch rate has increased in each of the three surveys, it is still relatively low compared with area lakes. Bass average length decreased from 15.1 inches in 2013 to 13.1 inches in 2024. The largest bass sampled in 2024 was 19.7 inches. Anglers can expect to catch low numbers of moderate sized bass.
A low number of Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets during the 2024 survey. The 15 pike sampled ranged from 20.2 to 36.4 inches and had a 29-inch average. The average length of pike sampled by gill nets in 2013 was 24 inches. The 35 and 36 inch pike sampled in 2024 were the largest ever sampled. Pike catch rates decreased from 5.3/net in 2013 to 2.5/net in 2024, which compares to the lake average of 3.5/net. Estimated ages from cleithra indicated six year classes from age-4 through age-9 were present in 2024.
Yellow Perch catch rates decreased from the 2013 survey but remain high when compared with area lakes. Perch gill net catch rates decreased from (139/net) in 2013 to (76/net) in 2024. Perch ranged from 5.1 to 11.1 inches and had an average length of 7.4 inches in 2024. The average length was the same in 2013. Although most perch are smaller than anglers prefer, they are the primary prey source for most predator gamefish targeted by anglers.
There were no Walleyes sampled during the 2024 survey. Although 600,00 Walleye fry were stocked in seven of the past eight years, along with 2,650 fingerlings in 2023, none were sampled. While none were sampled in gill nets and trap nets, none were also observed while electrofishing for Largemouth Bass. Potential reasons include the high numbers of Bluegill and Black Crappie, warm summer water temperatures, and periodic low oxygen levels.
Other species sampled included Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Francis Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Francis 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
- Francis Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Francis Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 387 ac · 2.3 mi
- Florence Lake · 135 ac · 5.7 mi
- Spectacle Lake · 246 ac · 5.9 mi
- Green Lake · 833 ac · 6.9 mi
- Baxter Lake · 89 ac · 7.6 mi
- Fannie Lake · 360 ac · 7.8 mi
- Blue Lake · 296 ac · 8.5 mi
- Sandy Lake · 64 ac · 9.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Francis Lake?
Francis Lake reaches 7 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 4 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Francis Lake?
Francis Lake covers 269 acres with about 3.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Francis Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Francis Lake average 3.9 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Francis Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Francis Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Francis Lake have a public access?
Yes. Francis Lake has one public access site: Francis Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Francis Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Francis Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Francis Lake in 2024, the most recent of 6 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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