Fox Lake

Fishing

Northern pike are the headline species here. A 2023 DNR survey documented pike in the 17- to 30-inch range with an average of 23 inches, and anglers have posted their own catches in the same class. Spring is when the big females cruise the shallow weed edges, but pike stay catchable well into summer along points and the outside of remaining vegetation.↗↗

Largemouth bass have produced three-plus-pound catches from the shallow bays and structure along the shoreline. Bluegill and pumpkinseed are plentiful for panfish fans, and seasonal white bass runs add a fast-action element in late spring. Walleye have been stocked by the DNR, and the lake's public fishing pier offers a no-boat option for shore anglers who want to target crappie or sunfish from solid ground.↗↗↗

Boating & Paddling

The DNR maintains a free public water access site with a concrete-slab boat ramp, a dock, and trailer parking for about seven rigs. It's a straightforward launch for jon boats, pontoons, or kayaks. The short fetch and sheltered geometry earned Fox Lake a solid paddling rating — this is a lake where you can explore the whole shoreline in an afternoon without worrying about whitecaps.↗↗

Because the lake is small and round, canoeists and kayakers can work their way around to different shoreline habitats in a couple of hours — forested points on one side, open wetland fringes on the other. The low aquatic vegetation coverage (around 1 percent on recent aerial estimates) means minimal paddle snagging compared to many Minnesota lakes.↗

Visiting

The public water access is located at 13475 Fox Lake Trail in Forest Township, managed by the Minnesota DNR Division of Parks and Trails. The site is free to use, though DNR rules require a Minnesota fishing license for anyone aged 16 to 89. Watercraft must be licensed and registered, and all boaters must inspect for aquatic invasive species before and after launching.↗↗↗

Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive aquatic plant, has been confirmed in Fox Lake, so be sure your boat, trailer, and gear are clean and drained before leaving. The DNR's "Clean, Drain, Dry" rules apply here just as at every Minnesota public access.↗↗

Fox Lake works best as a relaxed day trip: early-morning casting for pike, a midday paddle around the point, and shore fishing off the pier before heading home. It won't wow you with size or amenities, but that's exactly what makes it appealing — a small, accessible lake in the Minnesota countryside where you'll share the water with a handful of neighbors rather than a fleet of speedboats.