Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 28, 1999
Fox Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fox Lake average 5.31 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 28, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–32 inches. In Becker County, Minnesota, Fox Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 14.0 feet of visibility. 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 Fox Lake
13 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 Fox Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fox Lake average 5.31 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 28, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–32 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fox Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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: 1999-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 34.61 | 0.19 lb |
| White Sucker | 9.01 | 2.29 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.83 | 0.34 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.65 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.31 | 1.9 lb |
| Walleye | 4.22 | 0.98 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
White Sucker
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 1999-06-28 survey
Fox Lake is a small, heavily-developed lake. The number of shoreline homes or cottages more than double from 24 in 1966 to 55 in 1999. Fishing pressure has likely increased, as well, and the fish community is showing signs of over fishing.With a few exceptions, fish numbers remain much as they were forty years ago.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fox Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FoxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FoxFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Fox Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fox Lake average 5.31 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 28, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–32 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 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 Fox Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Fox Lake is dated June 28, 1999. 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 Fox Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Fox Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Fox Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fox Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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 Fox Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Fox Lake
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