Minnesota · Meeker County
Francis Lake Fishing guide
Francis Lake covers 1,053 acres in Meeker County, Minnesota, reaching 17 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2016Just a few0.7per gill net21"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2021Lengths measured · 7 fish
2015Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassJust a few0.6per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 293 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 99 fish
2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2022Lengths measured · 150 fish
2021Lengths measured · 124 fish
2015Northern pikeGood numbers12.6per gill net16"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 491 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 180 fish
2025Lengths measured · 144 fish
2022Lengths measured · 167 fish
2021Lengths measured · 157 fish
2015BluegillJust a few14.9per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1050 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 344 fish
2025Lengths measured · 260 fish
2025Lengths measured · 53 fish
2022Lengths measured · 393 fish
2021CrappieJust a few2.1per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 150 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 15 fish
2025Lengths measured · 109 fish
2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2022Lengths measured · 8 fish
2021Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates 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
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 83% 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 17-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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 83% 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 17-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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | 23" | 17" |
| 2022 | 38" | 22" | 16" |
| 2021 | 21" | 24" | 19" |
| 2015 | 32" | 21" | 17" |
| 2010 | 28" | 26" | 17" |
| 2005 | 24" | 24" | 20" |
| 1996 | 32" | 25" | 16" |
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:
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Walleye | 10,857 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Francis is a moderate-sized lake (1,053 acres) located northeast of the Town of Kingston in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is available on the north shore. Francis has approximately seven miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventeen feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Francis is a class 24 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Erie and Belle Lakes in Meeker County. This was the second time that spring trap netting was used to monitor the Francis Lake panfish populations.
Low numbers of Black Crappie were sampled, with fish averaging a typical 8.0 inches in length, but spring water temperature was above the recommended range to collect crappie, so catch rate may not reflect true relative abundance of the species. Approximately 13 percent of the trap net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled was respectable 9.8 inches. High numbers of Bluegill were sampled, and average length was decent (6.6 inches). The longest Bluegill sampled was an impressive 8.4 inches. An striking 46 percent of the trap net catch was 7 inches or longer, but only 2 percent of the catch was 8 inches in length or longer. Other panfish sampled included Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.
Read the full DNR narrative
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Francis Lake has the AIS Zebra mussel. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
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
- Moose Lake · 87 ac · 1.3 mi
- Union Lake · 93 ac · 2.2 mi
- West Lake Sylvia · 904 ac · 2.9 mi
- East Lake Sylvia · 669 ac · 3.6 mi
- Betty Lake · 154 ac · 3.9 mi
- French Lake · 346 ac · 4.7 mi
- John Lake · 398 ac · 5.2 mi
- Arvilla Lake · 138 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Francis Lake?
Francis Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8.5 ft; about 83% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Francis Lake?
Francis Lake covers 1,053 acres with about 7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Francis Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Francis Lake average 7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Francis Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Francis Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2016.
Does Francis Lake have a public access?
Yes. Francis Lake has one public access site: Francis Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Francis Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 38"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Francis Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Francis Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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