Fox

Fox is a 239 acre lake in northwest Pine County 3 miles west of Willow River. The lake lacks a designated public access but boat launching is possible from the township road on the west shore. Despite a maximum depth of only 14.5 feet, a significant winterkill has never been recorded. On a per acre basis, angling pressure is moderate to high in both summer and winter with anglers typically targeting northerns, Bluegill, and crappies. Water clarity and lake shore development are both low. Submerged aquatic vegetation is not common but there is a good amount of floating bog on the lake's north end. Northern Pike were less abundant than in the past but averaged a very similar 2.6 pounds and 21.9 inches. The Black Crappie catch rate changed little since the previous assessment and remains normal compared to similar lakes. Forty two percent of measured crappies exceeded 9 inches in length. With an abundance typical of the lake class, Yellow Perch serve as a forage fish and rarely exceed 8 inches. The Bluegill catch rate exceeded previous assessments but remains within the lake class norm. Thirty seven percent of Bluegill were 8 inches or longer. Largemouth Bass are available in fishable numbers with a mean of 13.1 inches and 1.6 pounds. The bass catch rate and average size decreased for the first time since the initial survey in 1993.

Fox is a 239 acre lake in northwest Pine County 3 miles west of Willow River. The lake lacks a designated public access but boat launching is possible from the township road on the west shore. Despite a maximum depth of only 14.5 feet, a significant winterkill has never been recorded. On a per acre basis, angling pressure is moderate to high in both summer and winter with anglers typically targeting northerns and crappies. Water clarity and lake shore development are both low. Submerged aquatic vegetation is not common but there is a good amount of floating bog on the lakes north end. Northern pike are more abundant than in the past but retain an acceptable size, averaging 2.3 pounds and 21.9 inches. The black crappie catch rate decreased in both the gill and trap nets but was normal compared to similar lakes. Twenty percent of measured crappies exceeded 9 inches in length. Yellow perch, with an abundance typical of the lake class, serve as a forage fish and rarely exceed 8 inches. Bluegill should provide a nice bonus to crappie anglers with a trap net rate near the lake class median and 38% of the catch over 7 inches. Largemouth bass are available in harvestable numbers with a mean of 13.8 inches and 1.9 pounds. The bass catch rate has improved with every assessment since the first sample in 1993.

Fox is a 239 acre lake in northwest Pine County 3 miles west of Willow River. The lake lacks a designated public access but boat launching is possible from the township road on the west shore. Despite a maximum depth of only 14.5 feet, a significant winterkill has never been recorded. On a per acre basis, angling pressure is moderate to high in both summer and winter with anglers typically targeting northerns and crappies. Water clarity and lake shore developement are both low. Submerged aquatic vegetation is not common but there is a good amount of floating bog on the lakes north end. Northern pike are less abundant than in the past but are good sized with 2.7 pound average and half the catch exceeding 23 inches. Two thirds of sampled crappies were over 8 inches with 23% over 9 inches. The crappie trapnet catch was higher than most similar lakes and past catches on Fox Lake. Yellow perch, with an abundance typical of the lake class, serve as a forage fish and rarely exceed 8 inches. Bluegill should provide a nice bonus to crappie anglers with a trapnet rate near the lake class median and 44% of the catch over 7 inches. Largemouth bass are available in harvestable numbers for the first time since surveying began in 1993. Bass average 13 inches and 1.3 pounds. Their catch rate has progressed from 0 in 1993 and 1.9/hour in 1998 to 31.6/hour currently. Fall shoreline seining found reproduction of northerns, bass, and bluegill.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, and Black Crappie 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 14.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Fox is from 2014. 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.