Foster-Arend

Olmsted County

Near Rochester

DOW: 55001900

White CrappieGood · 59Largemouth BassGood · 58Channel CatfishGood · 55

A 18-acre lake near Rochester in Olmsted County — best known for panfish and bass. Last surveyed 2009.

Fish Species (13)

White Crappie

Good · 59

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 14.4 per trap net · typical 1.5–9.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	14.40	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 30, 1982	6.00	-	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 58

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed May 2009

Last surveyed 2009 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.8"

Avg Weight

1.38 lbs

Catch rate: 18.0 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass35% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 65%Largest sampled 20"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
May 20, 2009	18.00	11.8"	1.38 lbs	Standard electrofishing

Channel Catfish

Good · 55

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.65 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	0.20	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 30, 1982	1.00	-	1.65 lbs	Standard gill nets

Green Sunfish

Good · 51

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.2 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
May 20, 2009	3.00	4.3"	0.09 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jun 30, 1982	0.20	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.90 lbs

Catch rate: 0.4 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	0.40	-	1.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 40

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 1.9–19.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	1.50	-	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Crappie

Average · 26

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 0.2 per trap net · typical 0.7–4.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
May 20, 2009	1.00	7.0"	0.22 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jun 30, 1982	0.20	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Poor · 21

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 9.4 per trap net · typical 2.9–41.2 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Size from the May 2009 survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
May 20, 2009	28.00	4.6"	0.09 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jun 30, 1982	9.40	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rainbow Trout

Stocked 2025

Last Stocked

2025

Size Class

yearlings

Total Fish

96,072

Frequency

every year

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2025	yearlings	10,481	6.0	-
2024	yearlings	8,400	5.0	-
2023	yearlings	9,330	5.0	-
2023	adults	30	75.0	-
2022	yearlings	10,470	6.0	-
2021	yearlings	10,050	6.0	-
2020	yearlings	8,250	5.0	-
2019	yearlings	10,250	6.0	-
2019	adults	38	158.3	-
2018	yearlings	9,750	6.0	-
2017	yearlings	9,355	5.0	-
2016	yearlings	9,668	7.0	-

Brook Trout

Stocked 2023

Last Stocked

2023

Size Class

adults

Total Fish

1,778

Frequency

every other year

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2023	adults	144	182.3	-
2022	adults	384	1.0	-
2020	yearlings	410	554.0	-
2019	adults	840	700.0	-

Brown Trout

Stocked 2023

Last Stocked

2023

Size Class

adults

Total Fish

350

Frequency

irregularly

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2023	adults	100	166.7	-
2022	adults	75	150.0	-
2019	adults	175	496.8	-

Other species in this lake (2)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Black Bullhead

Average · 48

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.36 lbs

Catch rate: 2.8 per trap net · typical 0.7–16.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	2.80	-	0.36 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Average · 44

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1982

Last surveyed 1982 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.95 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1982	1.00	-	0.95 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best white crappie lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Special regulations on this lake

DNR special regulations override the statewide limits.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes includes: Bear Creek Reservoir (Chester Woods), Cascade Lake (Cascade Ponds), Foster Arend Lake, Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake or Willow Reservoir No. 4), Kalmar Reservoir, Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond, Manor Woods Pond (Country Club Pond), Silver Lake, Silver Creek Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir.
Combined possession limit one. The daily and possession limits for these species apply to the waters listed as a whole, that is, only one daily and possession limit may be taken from the group of waters that comprise the Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes
Northern Pike
Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes includes: Bear Creek Reservoir (Chester Woods), Cascade Lake (Cascade Ponds), Foster Arend Lake, Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake or Willow Reservoir No. 4), Kalmar Reservoir, Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond, Manor Woods Pond (Country Club Pond), Silver Lake, Silver Creek Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir.
Possession limit one. The daily and possession limit of one for northern pike apply to the waters listed as a whole, that is, only one daily and possession limit may be taken from the group of waters that comprise the Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes
Sunfish, Black and White Crappie, Yellow Perch
Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes includes: Bear Creek Reservoir (Chester Woods), Cascade Lake (Cascade Ponds), Foster Arend Lake, Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake or Willow Reservoir No. 4), Kalmar Reservoir, Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond, Manor Woods Pond (Country Club Pond), Silver Lake, Silver Creek Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir.
Combined possession limit ten, of which only five may be black or white crappie. The daily and possession limit for these species apply to the waters listed as a whole, that is, only one daily and possession limit may be taken from the group of waters that comprise the Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Trout
Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes includes: Bear Creek Reservoir (Chester Woods), Cascade Lake (Cascade Ponds), Foster Arend Lake, Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake or Willow Reservoir No. 4), Kalmar Reservoir, Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond, Manor Woods Pond (Country Club Pond), Silver Lake, Silver Creek Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir.
Continuous season. Possession limit three. One over 16" allowed in possession.

Statewide limits

Statewide limits — apply unless a special regulation above overrides them.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Crappie

10 combined total

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Sunfish

20 combined total

Channel Catfish

5, only 1 fish over 24"

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

May 20, 2009Foster Arend Lake is an 18 acre former gravel pit located in Foster Arend Park in Rochester. The park provides ample parking and a handicapped accessi…

Foster Arend Lake is an 18 acre former gravel pit located in Foster Arend Park in Rochester. The park provides ample parking and a handicapped accessible fishing pier is present. A beach with consession stand and restrooms is also located in the park. Due to the steep dropping shoreline trap netting is not effective therefore electrofishing was used to sample the gamefish population. The total catch was low. Twenty-eight bluegill, 18 largemouth bass, 3 green sunfish, and 1 black crappie were collected. Bluegill were small with an average length of 5.2 inches. Largemouth bass had a mean length of 12.4 inches and a maximum size of 20.8 inches. Several additional large bass were observed but not captured. Foster Arend Lake is unique in that it is managed as a two-story fishery with the stocking of catchable size rainbow trout. In this evaluation, numerous rainbow trout were observed. The management plan for Foster-Arend calls for 10,000 rainbow trout to be stocked annually and they are very popular with anglers, particularly during the ice fishing season.

June 30, 1982A fair to good population of various species is present in the system. Largemouth bass are well represented and reproduction appears adequate. Crappie…

A fair to good population of various species is present in the system. Largemouth bass are well represented and reproduction appears adequate. Crappies and bluegill are of a borderline size, which may or may not be acceptable to anglers. Walleyes were stocked by the previous owner and will provide a short term fishery of only a few years. Although white bass are present, no reproduction is possible and fishing opportunity is limited to a short period of time. Crappies, bluegills, largemouth bass and bullheads make up the present fishable population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Foster-Arend?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target White Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, and Walleye in Foster-Arend. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Foster-Arend?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Foster-Arend. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Foster-Arend?

Foster-Arend has a maximum depth of 42 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Foster-Arend last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Foster-Arend is from 2009. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Foster-Arend have any invasive species?

No invasive species are on record for Foster-Arend in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

Are there special fishing regulations on Foster-Arend?

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 4 special rules for Foster-Arend, covering largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, sunfish, black and white crappie, yellow perch, and trout. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.