Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 24, 2017
Fenske Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fenske Lake average 1.36 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–40 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Fenske Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 11.5 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Fenske Lake
8 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Fenske Lake
No stocking record for Fenske Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Fenske Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fenske Lake average 1.36 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–40 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fenske Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 catch rate (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 means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
Common questions
What fish are in Fenske Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fenske Lake average 1.36 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–40 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 8 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Fenske Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Fenske Lake is dated July 24, 2017. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Fenske Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Fenske Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Fenske Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fenske Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Fenske Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Fenske Lake
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