8 miles north of Cromwell
St. Louis County, Minnesota · 46.7913° N, 92.9050° W
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Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:13 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site 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 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 280,000 walleye fry. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 280,000 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 August 2023: 12 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 14 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in August 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1995 4.0 · 2005 1.7 · 2010 2.6 · 2015 1.6 · 2023 2.4
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1995 0.5 · 2005 1.8 · 2010 2.9 · 2015 3.2 · 2023 4.8
Walleye: 34 measured, 7 to 24 in, half 15 in or longer; average 1.7 lb, normal (normal 0.8–2 lb).
Northern pike: 30 measured, 7 to 32 in, half 23 in or longer; average 3.5 lb, normal (normal 1.9–3.7 lb).
Black crappie: 121 measured, 3 to 11 in, half 8 in or longer; average 0.32 lb, normal (normal 0.2–0.5 lb).
Bluegill: 59 measured, 3 to 8 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.16 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Yellow perch: 169 measured, 4 to 9 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.11 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 21 Aug 2023, 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 5 ft: the Secchi depth across 4 readings, 2010–2023.
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 47 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 794 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Prairie Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 280,000 walleye fry.
Minnesota DNR’s August 2023 standard survey caught 14 species, most often yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and walleye.
About 84% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.