Fenske Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Fenske Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Fenske Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Fenske Lake reaches 43 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 108 acres, Fenske Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.6 miles of shoreline. Fenske Lake ranks 63 of 187 in St. Louis County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Fenske Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 8 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Fenske Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Fenske Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 108.43 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Fenske Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Fenske Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Fenske Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.199 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #63 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fenske Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Fenske Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 9.87 | 0.17 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 2.03 | 0.53 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.36 | 3.87 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.16 | 3.2 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.04 | 0.5 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.01 | 0.21 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
White Sucker
From the 2017-07-24 survey
Fenske Lake is located approximately 8 miles N of Ely within the Superior National Forest. There are several cabins around the lake and a small resort is located near the NW corner. The USFS operates a campround near the NW corner as well. There is a gravel boat ramp near the campground off CR 116 (Echo Trail) for…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fenske Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FenskeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fenske (1515)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FenskePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Fenske Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0085-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-09-03
Monitoring stations: 1