---
type: lake
name: "Lower Prior Lake"
county: "Scott"
nearest_town: "Grainwood"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 956
max_depth_ft: 60
latitude: 44.73273
longitude: -93.41001
lake_score: 73
dnr_lake_id: "70002600"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/lower-prior-lake
---

# Lower Prior Lake

Lake in Scott County, Minnesota, near Grainwood

- **Surface Area**: 956 acres
- **Max Depth**: 60 ft
- **Shoreline**: 14.7 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 12.3 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 73/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Lower Prior Lake is a 956-acre lake near Grainwood in Scott County, Minnesota. It reaches 60 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 14.7 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Scott County in the Minnesota DNR's LakeFinder records. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 12.3 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, and bluegill. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to crappie and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. OpenStreetMap shows Sand Point Beach and Watzl's Point Beach on or beside the lake. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 4, based on 19 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**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Crappie, Sunfish**: Daily limit five.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Marina

### Beaches

- Sand Point Beach
- Watzl's Point Beach

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, White Bass, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

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

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 4
- **Years of record**: 19
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-03
- **Latest**: 2018-05-02

## Nearby Lakes

- [Upper Prior Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/upper-prior-lake) - 2.3 miles, 386 acres
- [Cleary Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/cleary-lake) - 2.9 miles, 145 acres
- [Spring Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/spring-lake) - 3.8 miles, 592 acres
- [O'Dowd Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/o-dowd-lake) - 5.3 miles, 301 acres
- [Orchard Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/dakota-county/orchard-lake) - 5.4 miles, 238 acres
- [Thole Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/thole-lake) - 6.1 miles, 119 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.73273,-93.41001)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=70002600)
- [All lakes in Scott County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/lower-prior-lake)*