Lake Francis

How big is Lake Francis?

How deep is Lake Francis?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Francis?

What are the closest cities to Lake Francis?

Are there boat launches on Lake Francis?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Francis?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Lake Francis?

Francis is a moderate-sized lake (1,053 acres) located northeast of the City of Kingston in Meeker County. A county-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the north shore. Francis has seven miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 17 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 lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Erie and Manuella Lakes in Meeker County. Although submergent plant sampling was not performed in 2022, anecdotal observations indicated that the lake continued to have a high quality (diverse and abundant) aquatic plant community.

Walleye were sampled in low numbers in 2022, but average size was impressive with fish averaging 20 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was 22 inches. Walleye were all age-6 and tracked back to the last stocking of Walleye fingerlings. Walleye fingerling stocking was discontinued following 2016, due to high costs and limited success. High numbers of Northern Pike and low numbers of Yellow Perch were likely reasons for poor success of past Walleye stocking efforts.

High numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 17 inches in length. A rare lunker-sized pike was netted in 2022, measuring 38 inches in length. Francis is well known as a "hammer handle" sized pike lake and this was again the case in 2022, with 92% of the catch being less than 20 inches in length. Anglers and Spearers are encouraged to harvest these small pike, which are excellent eating. Northern pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats and population abundance and size structuring. Three zones were established for northern pike with their own bag and length limit restrictions. In the north-central zone where Francis Lake is found, anglers can keep up to 10 northern pike, but no more than two pike larger than 26 inches; and all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. This zone regulation is meant to reduce small pike abundance by shifting population size structure back to more medium to large pike.

Low numbers of Black Crappie are typically sampled at Francis Lake and this remained true in 2022. Crappie over 9 inches in length made up 33% of the catch, with the longest fish captured being slightly over 11 inches. Although gill nets are not typically used to evaluate Bluegill populations, the species was found to be present in fair numbers this summer. The longest Bluegill netted was almost 9 inches in length. Francis has a reputation for a quality sunfish population.

Other species that anglers may encounter include Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed and Yellow Bullhead.

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 in it. 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 of these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

What is the average air temp for Lake Francis?