Newfound

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Newfound Lake on August 7th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 36.1 feet), the water temperature decreased to 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 19.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 22.5 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 3.2 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Lake Whitefish was present. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 13.4 degrees C (56.1 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2010, 2018, 2024 indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in most years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2010 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Newfound Lake is a 643-acre lake located 20 miles northeast of Ely. Newfound Lake is on the Moose Chain of Lakes, between Moose Lake to the southwest and Sucker Lake to the northeast, and the water flows from southwest to northeast through Sucker and into Basswood Lake at Prairie Portage. There are also three canoe portages from Newfound Lake, which consist of a 30-rod portage to Found Lake on the northwest side, a 20-rod portage to Skull Lake on the southeast side, and a 35-rod portage to Splash Lake in the northeast corner. Although Newfound Lake is located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) within the Superior National Forest, outboard motors up to 25 hp are allowed. The U.S. Forest Service maintains 13 campsites and visitors need to have appropriate permits, issued by the U.S. Forest Service, to visit the lake. Newfound was thermally stratified on August 5, 2024, with a surface temperature of 74 F and a bottom temperature of 50 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish to a depth of 23 feet. The dam at the outlet of Sucker Lake sets the elevation for all three lakes in the Moose Chain (Moose, Newfound, and Sucker). Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly ledge rock, rubble, and gravel. Aquatic vegetation is very sparse. The lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet and had light green colored water at the time of the survey. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 59.9 fish/net which was higher than average for the lake. Fish species sampled in gillnets were cisco, walleye, white sucker, northern pike, smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, rock bass, and yellow perch. The overall trap net catch rate for all fish combined was 4.4 fish/net, which was below average for the lake. Fish species sampled in trap nets were rock bass, northern pike, walleye, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, white sucker, and yellow perch. The 2024 gillnets sampled 71 walleye for a catch rate of 7.9 fish/net. This catch rate was better than average compared to past surveys on Newfound and very good compared to other lakes in the Tower area. Lengths ranged from 10 to nearly 30 inches with an average of over 20 inches, which was higher than normal compared to past surveys on the lake. Growth was extremely fast with a 4-year-old walleye averaging nearly 17 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 12 years with fish from each age class present, representing consistent natural reproduction in this self-sustaining population. The northern pike gillnet catch rate of 1.7 fish/net was below average for Newfound. Lengths ranged from 20 to over 36 inches with an average of 23 inches. These sizes were very good compared to past surveys on Newfound Lake. Ten smallmouth bass were sampled in gillnets for a catch rate of 1.1 fish/net which was above average compared to past surveys on Newfound. Lengths ranged from 5 to 18 inches with an average just under 12 inches. The cisco gillnet catch rate was 46.1 fish/net which was above average for Newfound and quite high when compared to other cisco lakes in the area. Lengths ranged from 7 to over 15 inches with an average of almost 11 inches. Cisco are likely an important prey source for predator species like walleye, pike and smallmouth bass in the lake. The bluegill trap net catch rate was 0.8 fish/net which was below average for Newfound Lake. Lengths ranged from 6 to over 8 inches with an average of 7 inches. Ages ranged from 4 to 9 years and growth was fast compared to other lakes in the Tower area, with most fish reaching 6 inches by age-5. Rusty crayfish are a non-native invasive species that were first sampled in 1989 in Newfound Lake. They were likely first introduced to the Moose Chain of Lakes in anglers' bait buckets. In 2024, the rusty crayfish catch rate was 32/net. This catch rate is below average compared to past surveys.

Newfound Lake is a 643 acre lake located 20 miles northeast of Ely. There are five accesses, two of which are water routes, and three portages. The two water routes consist of a connection to Moose Lake on the southwest end and a connection to Sucker Lake on the northeast end. The three portages consist of a 30 rod portage to Found Lake on the northwest side, a 20 rod portage to Skull Lake on the south east side, and a 35 rod portage to Splash Lake in the northeast corner. Although Newfound Lake is located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) within the Superior National Forest, outboard motors up to 25 hp are allowed. There are 13 U.S. Forest Service maintained campsites and visitors need to have appropriate permits, issued by the U.S. Forest Service, to visit the lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet and at the time of the survey, light green colored water. Newfound was thermally stratified on August 20, 2018 with a surface temperature of 73 F and a bottom temperature of 47 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish to a depth of 26 feet. Newfound Lake receives water from Moose Lake to the southwest and flows out to Sucker Lake to the northeast. The dam at the outlet of Sucker Lake sets the elevation for all three lakes in the Moose Chain (Moose, Newfound, and Sucker). Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly ledge rock, rubble, and gravel. Aquatic vegetation is very sparse. There is no stocking currently being done on Newfound Lake. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 44.7 fish/net which was higher than average for the lake. Fish species sampled were cisco, walleye, northern pike, white sucker, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and lake whitefish. The 2018 gill nets sampled 72 walleye for a catch rate of 8 fish/net. This catch rate was better than average compared to past surveys on Newfound and very good compared to other similar lakes. The catch rate was also quite good when compared to other lakes in the Tower area. Lengths ranged from 7 to 30 inches with an average of nearly 18 inches, which was higher than normal compared to past surveys on the lake. The average weight was very impressive at nearly 3 pounds. Growth was extremely fast with a 4 year old walleye averaging nearly 17 inches. Fish were aged up to 19 years old with good representation from most year classes. The northern pike gill net catch rate of 3.7 fish/net was better than average for Newfound and very good compared to other similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 16 to nearly 42 inches with an average of 28 inches. These sizes were very good compared to past surveys on Newfound Lake. The average weight was an impressive 5.5 pounds which was quite high compared to other similar lakes throughout the state. The cisco gillnet catch rate was 27.2 fish/net which was above average for Newfound and quite high when compared to other cisco lakes in the area. Lengths ranged from 7 to 17 inches with an average of 10 inches. Eight smallmouth bass were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 0.9 fish/net which was above average compared to other similar lakes and past surveys on Newfound. Sizes ranged from 8 to 15 inches with an average just over 11 inches. Lake whitefish, yellow perch, white sucker, and rock bass were also sampled in gill nets. Their catch rates and sizes were similar to past surveys. Rusty crayfish are a non-native invasive species that were first sampled in 1989 in Newfound Lake. They were likely first introduced to the Moose Chain of Lakes in anglers' bait buckets. In 2018, the rusty crayfish catch rate was 51.8/net. This catch rate is similar to past surveys.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Newfound. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Newfound has a maximum depth of 45 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Newfound is from 2024.

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