Fountain Lake (West Bay)
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Fountain Lake (West Bay) is mapped to a depth of 5 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 145 acres in Freeborn County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1971.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 5 ft
- Survey year
- 1971
- Surface area
- 145 acres
- Shoreline
- 3.59 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Fountain Lake, North Edgewater Bay Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 1 more
Additional depth details1 contour
- Contour depths
- 0–5 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 5 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 43.66568, -93.39326
- MN DNR lake ID
- 24001802
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Fountain Lake (West Bay) has a substantially developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, substantial nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 0.7 of 35 | 11% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (2% forest, 3% wetland; 74% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 20.5 of 29 | mean fetch 833 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 2 DNR public access sites · boat ramp · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 2.6 of 18 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 29 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 5,818 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 1% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Limited — 2% forest and 3% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Shell Rock River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking13 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Common Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
White Sucker
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Walleye 59 · Largemouth Bass 40 · Northern Pike 39 · Channel Catfish 5
Panfish Black Crappie 286 · Yellow Perch 178 · Bluegill 114
All survey species13 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2016–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
Not on the Minnesota DNR’s infested waters list as of September 9, 2026. This does not mean the lake is free of invasive species: the list covers certain species only, and a species can be present before anyone finds it.
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Fountain Lake (West Bay) — common questions
How deep is Fountain Lake (West Bay)?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Fountain Lake (West Bay) is 5 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Fountain Lake (West Bay)?
Fountain Lake (West Bay) covers about 145 acres in Freeborn County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Fountain Lake (West Bay)?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie. The page lists all 13 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Fountain Lake (West Bay)?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 2 public access sites on Fountain Lake (West Bay): Fountain Lake, North Edgewater Bay Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Fountain Lake Fishing Pier (public fishing pier).
