5 miles north of Grand Rapids
Itasca County, Minnesota · 47.3106° N, 93.5435° W
Directions to Prairie Lake (W) Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access sites (2 listed; this is the first).
Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:03 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
2 public access sites on Prairie Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of Prairie Lake in 5 of the years 2021 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 800,000 walleye fry. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 800,000 walleye fry.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Prairie Lake was in July 2012: 15 gill nets and 15 trap nets caught 25 species. This survey is 14 years old. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in June 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1990 2.2 · 1995 2.4 · 2000 1.8 · 2006 1.9 · 2012 0.6
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1990 4.5 · 1995 10 · 2000 4.8 · 2006 7.9 · 2012 8.0
Walleye: 9 measured, 7 to 26 in, half 16 in or longer; average 2 lb, normal (normal 1–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 79 measured, 12 to 31 in, half 22 in or longer; average 2.4 lb, above normal (normal 1.3–2.3 lb).
Black crappie: 176 measured, 3 to 10 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.15 lb, below normal (normal 0.2–0.3 lb).
Bluegill: 164 measured, 3 to 8 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.11 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Yellow perch: 40 measured, 5 to 8 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.11 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, golden redhorse, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 23 Jul 2012, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 4 ft: the Secchi depth across 7 readings, 2006–2025.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Prairie Lake is 31 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 1,331 acres.
Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Prairie Lake (W) Public Water Access Site; Prairie Lake (S) Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2021 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 800,000 walleye fry.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2012 standard survey caught 25 species, most often black crappie, bluegill, northern pike and yellow perch.
About 49% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.