Foss
A 36-acre lake near Burntside Lake in St. Louis County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 2025.
Fish Species (5)
Pumpkinseed
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1985
Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 0.4–4.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 1985 | 0.33 | - | 0.20 lbs |
Northern Pike
Above-normal numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2025
Catch rate: 32.5 per gill net · typical 3–9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2025 | 32.50 | 18.0" | 1.48 lbs |
| Jun 5, 2025 | 2.00 | 18.0" | 1.67 lbs |
| Jun 10, 1985 | 2.00 | - | 0.38 lbs |
Bluegill
Typical numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2025
Catch rate: 2.7 per trap net · typical 0.6–6.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2025 | 2.67 | 6.1" | 0.19 lbs |
| Jun 5, 2025 | 1.50 | 6.1" | 0.30 lbs |
| Jun 10, 1985 | 0.67 | - | 0.25 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Typical numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2025
Catch rate: 3.5 per gill net · typical 3.3–18.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2025 | 3.50 | 6.6" | 0.17 lbs |
| Jun 10, 1985 | 1.00 | - | 0.33 lbs |
| Jun 10, 1985 | 4.50 | - | 0.19 lbs |
Other species in this lake (1)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Golden Shiner
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1985
Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.4–1.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 1985 | 0.50 | - | 0.20 lbs |
Biologist Notes
June 5, 2025Foss is a 38-acre lake located 10 miles west of Ely off the Wolf Lake Road. Foss is comparable to other Tower Area lakes such as Agassa, Lapond, and R…
Foss is a 38-acre lake located 10 miles west of Ely off the Wolf Lake Road. Foss is comparable to other Tower Area lakes such as Agassa, Lapond, and Robinson. Foss is a very shallow and bog-stained lake with a maximum depth of 6 feet and Secchi visibility of 4 feet. One private cabin on the northeast and a state-leased cabin to the northwest are the extent of development. There is no established public access, although the southern shoreline of the lake is in U.S. Forest Service ownership. Lack of access along with presumed lack of desirable fish result in an essentially virgin fishery, rare even in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Northern pike abundance (32.5/gill net) was the highest ever sampled in the Tower Area. This was over three times greater than the previous survey catch of 9.5/net. Lengths ranged from 12 inches to an impressive 35 inches, although average length was low at 18 inches. Bluegill numbers (2.7/trap net) were higher than the previous survey. Bluegill ranged in length from 5 to 7 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Gill nets sampled fewer and slightly larger bluegill, with a maximum length of 8 inches. Yellow perch numbers (3.5/gill net) were lower than in the previous survey. Size structure was nearly identical, ranging from 5.5 to 8.5 inches and averaging 7 inches.
June 10, 1985Simple species complex consisting of above average numbers of small northern pike and low numbers of yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, and…
Simple species complex consisting of above average numbers of small northern pike and low numbers of yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, and golden shiner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Foss?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch in Foss. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Foss?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Foss. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Foss?
Foss has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Foss last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Foss is from 2025.
Does Foss have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Foss in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 36.48 acres
- Max Depth
- 6 ft
- Shoreline
- 1.05 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed