Lake Francis near Madison Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lake Francis is one of the Le Sueur County waters in Minnesota. The water sits 1,014 feet up. At some 869 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Few waters listed in Le Sueur County are bigger. Nearest town is Madison Lake, 5.5 miles off. It is 57 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lake Francis

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Le Sueur County records list common carp, bluegill and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lake Francis the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 72°F and January reads 11°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Lake Francis by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Lake Charles sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Lake Francis if anything is unclear.