Spring

Spring Lake contains a wide array of fish species due to its direct connection to the Mississippi River. Riverine species such as carp, freshwater drum, mooneye, goldeye, and various redhorse species are abundant. Channel catfish were the most abundant gamefish sampled for the third straight survey. Individuals up to 26 inches were sampled. Sauger and walleye are present, but in below average numbers for this type of lake. Northern pike are also present, but in very low numbers. Bluegills and black crappies were caught in average abundance. Anglers should be aware of consumption advisories for Pool 2 of the Mississsippi River, which includes Spring Lake. PCBs and mercury have been detected in various species. Spring Lake is also included in the special regulation for Pool 2 that requires catch and release fishing for walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass, but allows year around fishing.

Spring Lake has a diverse fish community with 28 species caught in gillnets and trapnets during the 1991 population assessment. Gillnet catches for goldeye, river carpsucker, quillback carpsucker, shorthead redhorse, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and sauger were above local or state-wide median values. Trapnet catches for shortnose gar, gizzard shad, river carpsucker, shorthead redhorse, white bass, smallmouth bass, and sauger were above local or state-wide median values. Smallmouth bass had not been caught in either the 1986 population assessment or the 1981 lake survey netting. Growth of northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleye was good. Several year classes of walleye and sauger indicate adequate recruitment to those populations.

Game fish caught in this netting were: black and white crappie, bluegill, sunfish, sauger, walleye, northern pike, white bass, channel and flathead catfish. Sauger, channel catfish, black crappie, and white bass were caught in relatively high numbers. All other gamefish species present were captured in relatively low numbers. Other species netted included: shortnose gar, mooneye, carp, shorthead and golden redhorse, highfin carpsucker, quillback, smallmouth buffalo, gizzard shad, white sucker, freshwater drum, bowfin, and snapping turtles. Of the non-game fish species captured, the carp, shorthead redhorse, and freshwater drum were caught in significantly large numbers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, White Crappie, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass in Spring. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Spring. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Spring has a maximum depth of 17 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Spring is from 2001. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Spring has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil, bighead carp, flowering rush, grass carp, silver carp, and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.