---
type: lake
name: "French Lake"
county: "Rice"
nearest_town: "Faribault"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 876
max_depth_ft: 56
latitude: 44.33961
longitude: -93.39215
lake_score: 53
dnr_lake_id: "66003800"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/french-lake
---

# French Lake

Lake in Rice County, Minnesota, near Faribault

- **Surface Area**: 876 acres
- **Max Depth**: 56 ft
- **Shoreline**: 4.8 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 53/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

French Lake is an 876-acre lake near Faribault in Rice County, Minnesota. It reaches 56 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 4.8 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 2 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, black crappie, and white crappie. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2024.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around March 31, based on 16 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2024
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, White Bass, Bowfin, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 31
- **Years of record**: 16
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-02
- **Latest**: 2018-04-30

## Nearby Lakes

- [Dudley Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/dudley-lake) - 1.8 miles, 128 acres
- [Mazaska Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/mazaska-lake) - 2.3 miles, 688 acres
- [Roberds Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/roberds-lake) - 2.5 miles, 632 acres
- [Hunt Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/hunt-lake) - 2.7 miles, 176 acres
- [Shields Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/shields-lake) - 3.2 miles, 940 acres
- [Cedar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cedar-lake) - 3.6 miles, 902 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.33961,-93.39215)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=66003800)
- [All lakes in Rice County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/french-lake)*