West Fox Lake

How big is West Fox Lake?

How deep is West Fox Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in West Fox Lake?

What are the closest cities to West Fox Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available West Fox Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of West Fox Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

West Fox Lake

Are there places to eat and drink near West Fox Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in West Fox Lake was conducted on August 15th, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and soft sediments with abundant vegetation and deep water prevented the use of seines at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 23 species of fish including 10 species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Logperch, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish).

A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eleven species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill (39%) and Hybrid Sunfish (23%) comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin (28%), Yellow Bullhead (15%), and Northern Pike (14%) comprised a majority by biomass. The number of Bowfin, Largemouth Bass, and Rock Bass sampled per net were all above the 50% quartile for similar Lake Class 23 lakes. Conversely, the number of Brown Bullhead and Yellow Perch sampled per net were at the 25% quartile for similar Lake Class 23 lakes.

The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2019 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in West Fox Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Pine River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

In addtion, a temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on West Fox Lake on August 16th, 2022 to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 17 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 25.2 feet, which was below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 12.8°C (55.0°F).

TDO3 values cooler than 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Cisco was available across a range of depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2022. Data collected in 1996-2019 further indicate suitable oxythermal habitat across years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2008. When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore experience lower levels of stress.

What is the average air temp for West Fox Lake?

Are there any state parks near West Fox Lake?