Lake Francis Fishing in Meeker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lake Francis lies in Meeker County, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,043 feet. At some 1,040 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 6.3 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Few waters listed in Meeker County are bigger. Some 7 miles away sits Annandale, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Dassel (10 miles) and Cokato (11 miles). The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Lake Francis

  Published depth figures reach 22 feet at the lowest point. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Meeker County include largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and common carp. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Lake Francis rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 10°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan any trip to Lake Francis around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Lake Union, 2.1 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Lake Francis.