East Fox

East Fox is a 240 acre lake that is located one mile west of Fifty Lakes in Crow Wing County. A public access is on the north shoreline. East Fox reaches depths of 65 feet, with 42% of the lake 15 feet deep or less. Water clarity measured during the 2025 survey was excellent, with a Secchi depth of 17 feet. A standard survey using gill nets and trap nets along with spring electrofishing was conducted in July 2025 to assess fish populations and provide angler information. Anglers will find plenty of smaller Northern Pike with the chance at a quality fish on East Fox. Fish ranged in length from 13.3 to 31.6 inches with an average of 20.2 inches. Northern Pike in the 22-26 inch protected slot made up 15% of the catch with 15% at least 26 inches in length. Anglers should consider releasing larger fish to help create a more balanced population. Anglers can expect good Largemouth Bass fishing based on what was caught in the survey. Largemouth Bass were sampled by a spring electrofishing survey, the preferred method for sampling Largemouth Bass, at a rate of 58.0/hr run-time. Fish ranged from 4.2 to 19.5 inches with an average length of 11.0" and 46% at least 12 inches in length. Largemouth Bass, when compared to similar lakes, were sampled in high numbers in gill nets. Fish ranged from 6.7 to 17.9 inches with an average length of 12.2 inches with 58% at least 12 inches in length. One 16 inch Smallmouth Bass was also sampled by spring electrofishing. Anglers looking to get a meal of Panfish should be able to accomplish that on East Fox, while those looking for trophy fish should look elsewhere. The Bluegill trap net catch was below average for the lake. Fish ranged in length from 3.0 to 8.5 inches with an average of 5.8 inches. Bluegill at least 7 inches in length made up 36% of the sample. Black Crappies were sampled in below average numbers in trap nets and in gill nets. Fish ran on the nicer side and ranged in length from 6.3 to 11.2 inches with 67% at least 8 inches in length. Fish over 10 inches accounted for 50% of the sample. Walleye are stocked into East Fox as fingerlings once every three years. Anglers may not find many Walleyes in East Fox but have an opportunity for a trophy. Fish sampled by gillnets ranged from 19.7 to 26.0 inches with an average of 22.3 inches. The two Walleye sampled in trap nets were 28.0 and 29.7 inches. Other species sampled in the latest survey included Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), and Yellow Bullhead.

East Fox is a reference lake for special Panfish regulations in place on Rogers Lake (18-0184) which calls for a daily limit of 5 on both Crappie and Sunfish. Trap netting is done every third spring to compare the results to Rogers which is netted at the same time. Black Crappies were also collected during spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass to supplement the sample. Black Crappies ranged in length from 7.6 to 11.3 inches, with 47 percent over 10 inches. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.9 to 9.2 inches, with an average length of 7.7 inches. While we didn't see any trophies, a good portion of the Bluegills (38 percent) were over 8 inches.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in East Fox Lake on August 2, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 18.9 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 24.2 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 5.3 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 14.3 degrees C (57.8 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of this survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2008-2023 during the late summer thermal stress period, also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Rock Bass in East Fox. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

East Fox has a maximum depth of 65 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in East Fox is from 2025.

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