Upper Spring

Itasca County

Near Grand Rapids

DOW: 31041100

Yellow PerchExcellent · 77PumpkinseedAverage · 43BluegillAverage · 42

A 18-acre lake near Grand Rapids in Itasca County — best known for panfish. Last surveyed 1990.

Fish Species (6)

Yellow Perch

Excellent · 77

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 47.5 per gill net · typical 1.9–19.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 5, 1990	25.75	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 5, 1990	47.50	-	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 16, 1974	3.50	-	0.21 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1974

Last surveyed 1974 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per trap net · typical 1.5–7.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 16, 1974	2.50	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Average · 42

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per trap net · typical 2.9–41.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 5, 1990	2.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Golden Shiner

Good · 74

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.09 lbs

Catch rate: 68.5 per gill net · typical 0.4–6.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 5, 1990	11.25	-	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 5, 1990	68.50	-	0.09 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Good · 73

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.82 lbs

Catch rate: 9.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 5, 1990	9.50	-	0.82 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 16, 1974	0.50	-	2.00 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 16, 1974	2.00	-	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Average · 42

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.7–16.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 5, 1990	2.00	-	0.12 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 5, 1990	1.00	-	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

Biologist Notes

July 5, 1990NO GOLDEN SHINERS WERE OBSERVED IN THE 1974 SURVEY BUT IN 1990 THE NUMBERS WERE WELL ABOVE LAKE CLASS MEDIANS, AND GOOD OVERALL SIZE. THE WHITE SUCKER…

NO GOLDEN SHINERS WERE OBSERVED IN THE 1974 SURVEY BUT IN 1990 THE NUMBERS WERE WELL ABOVE LAKE CLASS MEDIANS, AND GOOD OVERALL SIZE. THE WHITE SUCKER POPULATION HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY WITH SIZE RE- MAINING SOMEWHAT SMALL. NO BLACK BULLHEADS WERE REPORTED IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY BUT APPEAR TO BE CLOSE TO LAKE CLASS MEDIANS NOW. THERE WERE NO BLUEGILLS CAPTURED IN THE 1974 SURVEY AND THE POPULATION NOW IS SMALL IN SIZE AND NUMBER. THE BLUEGILL ARE ALL FROM THE 1987 YEAR CLASS AND PROBABLY REPRESENT A MARGINAL POPULATION. NO PUMPKINSEED WERE OBSERVED IN THIS ASSESSMENT. BUT WERE PRESENT AS A MARGINAL POPULATION IN 1974. THE YELLOW PERCH ARE RELATIVELY ABUNDANT WITH NUMBERS WELL ABOVE STATE AND LAKE CLASS MEDIANS. THE POPULATION HAS REMAINED HIGH SINCE THE INITIAL SURVEY AND THE SIZE RANGE IS LARGE WITH GOOD SIZE DISTRIBUTION.

August 16, 1974(The access to the lk is poor. A steep (hills separates the access road and the (lk. Lght equip. should be used on lk. Netting information indicates a…

(The access to the lk is poor. A steep (hills separates the access road and the (lk. Lght equip. should be used on lk. Netting information indicates a simple species complex. Perch and Golden Shiners are quite abun- dant. No N Pike were caught.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Upper Spring?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, and Bluegill in Upper Spring. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Upper Spring?

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

How deep is Upper Spring?

Upper Spring has a maximum depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Upper Spring last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper Spring is from 1990. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.