Fox

Fox Lake is 34 acres with a maximum depth of 5.0 feet, located approximately 11 miles northwest of Tofte, MN. There are two routes to the lake, both across federal land. One route was a portage from the west end of Soda Lake, approximately 0.1 mile, along the outlet, to the east end of Fox Lake. A second carry-in access to the northwest side of Fox Lake is on an old logging trail from USFS Rd. #170 (The Grade) then across wet bog to the lake shore, approximately 0.5 mile total length. Fox Lake is surrounded by public land and has undeveloped lake shore. Fox Lake is a moderately soft-water lake; the secchi disk was visible to the bottom (4.8 feet) in brown bog-stained water. The majority of the lake substrate was muck and detritus with hard bottom adjacent to the major point in the middle of the south shore. Aquatic vegetation was sparse in the bog-stained water; the shoreline was covered by bog species and common cattail. The inlet from Soda Lake and the outlet to Toohey Creek provide possible routes of fish movement into Fox Lake. There are no records of fish introductions into Fox Lake. The northern pike numbers were above average in the 2012 for this type of lake. The average size of northern pike sampled was small (16.5 inches) with the largest northern pike sampled weighed 3.4 pounds. Seventeen percent of the northern pike sample was greater than 20 inches. Only four year-classes (ages 1-4) were identified in scale ageing; however, good growth was observed in these northern pike. Yellow perch were sampled in above average numbers for the lake class in 2012. The average weight was 0.2 pound (7.9 inches); the largest fish sampled was 9.9 inches with fifty-two percent of the total yellow perch catch greater than eight inches. Only two year-classes of yellow perch were identified in scale samples, with above average growth observed. A previous investigation in 1986 sampled yellow perch up to 14 inches, with an average length of 8.3 inches.

The catch of Northern Pike was 4.7 times the local average, while the Yellow Perch catch was about 0.5 times the local average.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch and Northern Pike in Fox. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Fox. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Fox has a maximum depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Fox is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Fox in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.