Spring

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Spring Lake on September 3rd 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 36 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 45.1 (+/- 3.2) out of 100 possible. A score of 45.1 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Very Poor (<50). Approximately 89 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 40.9 (+/- 2.5) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Very Poor (<50), while four undeveloped sites had a mean score of 79.2 (+/- 11.1) with Moderate (70-79.9) habitat quality.

Spring Lake is a 592-acre lake with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Spring is located southwest of the City of Prior Lake. Public access is provided by a DNR-owned boat ramp on the southwest side of the lake. Spring is a fertile lake, and in the summertime, dissolved oxygen levels become depleted in deeper water and fish will avoid the area. In 2024, dissolved oxygen was low in depths greater than 14 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels are present in Spring Lake. Spring is primarily managed for Walleye and Largemouth Bass, and also holds healthy populations of Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch. Management includes Walleye stocking every other year. A Standard Survey including trap nets and gill nets was conducted in 2024 to monitor the fishery. In 2024, Walleye numbers were high for this area and a broad range of sizes of fish were caught. Lengths were between 9 and 24 inches, with an average of 16.5 inches. While there were plenty of harvest-sized fish present, there was also a good number of smaller fish in the survey, which shows the success of recent stocking events. Spring Lake is one of the better Walleye fisheries in the metro, and anglers could find a good return on their effort here. Largemouth Bass sampling was not conducted in 2024. The lake was last sampled for bass in 2021, when nineteen fish were sampled and size ranged between 8 and 16 inches. Average fish length during that survey was 13 inches. Although abundance of bass was low in 2021, this is typical for Spring Lake. The bass population appears stable, at a lower abundance level than other lakes in the area. Northern Pike were sampled in moderate numbers compared to similar lakes in the area. Average size of Northern Pike was good, with the largest fish measuring over 37 inches. About half of the sampled fish were larger than 24 inches, which makes this population well-suited to the southern-zone pike regulation, allowing harvest of 2 fish greater than 24 inches. Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets and trap nets, and the catch was high. Average size of fish was on the small side; only 5% of the catch exceeded 8 inches. The high abundance of this population is likely limiting growth as the fish compete with one another for forage. Bluegill numbers were about average for this area in 2024, and size was modest. Average length was 4 inches, and only 7% of the sampled fish were larger than 7 inches. Although low water clarity benefits species such as Walleye, Bluegill populations are likely negatively affected by this factor. Yellow Perch numbers were also about average for this area, and size was small. Yellow Perch are seldom targeted by anglers on Spring, but they are an important prey species for Walleye and Northern Pike. Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Spring Lake is a 592-acre lake with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Spring is located southwest of the City of Prior Lake. Public access is provided by a DNR-owned boat ramp on the southwest side of the lake. Spring is a fertile lake, and in the summertime, dissolved oxygen levels become depleted in deeper water and fish will avoid the area. In 2021, dissolved oxygen was low in depths greater than 16 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil is present in Spring Lake. Spring is primarily managed for Walleye, and also holds healthy populations of Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch. Management includes Walleye stocking every other year. A Standard Survey including trap nets, gill nets, and boat electrofishing was conducted in 2021 to monitor the fishery. In 2021, Walleye numbers were high for this area and a broad range of sizes of fish were caught. Lengths were between 11 and 26 inches, and fish were distributed about evenly through the lengths. Spring Lake is one of the better Walleye fisheries in the metro, and anglers could find a good return on their effort here. Largemouth Bass are present in Spring Lake, however they were sampled in low numbers and of modest size in 2021. Nineteen fish were sampled by nighttime boat electrofishing in the spring, and size ranged between 8 and 16 inches, with an average fish length of 13 inches. Although abundance of bass was low in 2021, the catch was similar to the previous bass survey in 2015, when 35 fish were sampled by boat electrofishing. The bass population in this lake appears stable, at a lower abundance level than other lakes in the area. Northern Pike were sampled in moderate numbers compared to similar lakes in the area. Average size of Northern Pike was good, with the largest fish measuring over 37 inches. Almost three-quarters of the sampled fish were larger than 24 inches, which makes this population well-suited to the southern-zone pike regulation, allowing harvest of 2 fish greater than 24 inches. Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets and trap nets, and the catch was high. Average size of fish was on the small side; only 8% of the catch exceeded 8 inches. The high abundance of this population is likely limiting growth as the fish compete with one another for forage. Bluegill numbers were about average for this area, in 2021, and size was modest. Average length was 5 inches, and only 9% of the sampled fish were larger than 7 inches. Although low water clarity benefits species such as Walleye, Bluegill populations are likely negatively affected by this factor. Yellow Perch numbers were also about average for this area, and size was small. Yellow Perch are seldom targeted by anglers on Spring, but they are an important prey species for Walleye and Northern Pike. Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and White Crappie 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 37 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Spring is from 2024.

Yes — Spring has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.