Middle Spunk

Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre lake located within the city limits of Avon in central Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 81 feet and a large watershed dominated by row crops, forest, and pasture. A city owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake. A standard summer survey was conducted in 2023 to monitor changes in the fishery since the last survey in 2016. Anglers can expect good fishing for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Emergent and floating leaf vegetation was mapped in August 2016 and found to cover more than half of the shoreline. Dominant species mapped were cattail, waterlily, and bulrush. Submerged vegetation was not surveyed in 2023, but chara and coontail were the dominant species found in 2016. Water clarity was good; Secchi depth was 18 feet in late June and MPCA data shows the average summer water clarity to be 13 feet over the last ten years. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish down to 35 feet in late June. Northern Pike numbers were lower than 2016 but remained above the expected range of values for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 13 to 34 inches with an average length and weight of 20 inches and 2 pounds. The Northern Pike size structure is relatively poor as only 9% of the pike sampled were 26 inches or longer in 2023, similar to 2016 (8%). With the high catch rate of pike, anglers could expect a fair bit of action from the abundant small pike. Walleye catches have historically been low in Middle Spunk Lake despite regular fingerling stocking. Only six Walleye were captured during the 2023 survey; this is below the expected range of values for lakes like Middle Spunk and similar to results in 2016. Walleye ranged in length from 12 to 29 inches with an average length and weight of 20 inches and 3.7 pounds. While numbers are low, anglers still have a chance to catch a few walleye in Middle Spunk Lake. Largemouth Bass were sampled by daytime electrofishing on June 1st. The catch rate of 46/hour was lower than the Sauk Rapids average daytime catch of 52/hour and lower than the 2016 survey when sampling was conducted at night. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from six to 19 inches with an average length of 10 inches. Of catchable size fish (>8 inches), 20% were longer than 15 inches. No Smallmouth Bass were sampled in the 2023 but smallmouth were sampled in 2016 (16.2/hour). Middle Spunk Lake is one of the few lakes in the Sauk Rapids Area to support a Tullibee population. The Tullibee catch was much higher than 2016 and the second highest on record. Tullibee lengths ranged from seven to 16 inches with a mean length of 11 inches. Tullibee need cold, well oxygenated water to survive; a temperature oxygen profile conducted on June 20 indicated that dissolved oxygen was 3.2 ppm at 36 feet, where the temperature was 44°F. It is likely that conditions are less favorable later in the summer. Bluegill numbers were lower than 2016 but remained within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from three to eight inches with an average length of five inches. Black Crappie numbers remained low, but similar to 2016. Black Crappie lengths ranged from five to 13 inches, with an average length of nine inches. No Yellow Perch were caught in the survey; perch abundance is likely hindered by high numbers of Northern Pike. Other species sampled in low numbers included: Bowfin, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Middle Spunk Lake is a 236 acre lake located within the city limits of Avon in central Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 81 feet and a large watershed dominated by row crops, forest, and pasture. A city owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake. Middle Spunk Lake is managed for Northern Pike and was last surveyed in 2008. Anglers can expect good fishing for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and large Smallmouth Bass. Emergent and floating leaf vegetation covered more than half of the shoreline in August, primarily cattail, waterlily, and bulrush. Submerged vegetation was not surveyed, but chara and coontail were the dominant species in 2008. Water clarity was good; Secchi depth was 10.5 feet in late June and MPCA data show an average summer Secchi depth of 13 feet over the last ten years. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish down to 35 feet in late June. Northern Pike numbers were higher than 2008 and above the expected range of values for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 13.9 to 35.9 inches with an average length and weight of 21.1 inches and 2.3 pounds. Northern Pike were smaller compared to the last survey; only 16% were 24 inches or longer in 2016, compared to 43% in 2008. Walleye catches have historically been low in Middle Spunk Lake despite regular fingerling stocking for many years. Only four Walleye were captured during the 2016 survey; this is below the expected range of values for lakes like Middle Spunk and similar to results in 2008. Walleye ranged in length from 18.5 to 25 inches with an average length and weight of 22.5 inches and 4.2 pounds. Due to continued poor returns from our Walleye stocking, Middle Spunk Lake will no longer be stocked with Walleye. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing at night on May 26. The catch rate of 56/hour was below the Sauk Rapids nighttime average of 74/hour and the 2008 result of 68/hour. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from 4.4 to 17.8 inches with an average length of 10.4 inches. Of catchable size fish (>8 inches), 10% were longer than 15 inches. The Smallmouth Bass catch was lower (16/hr), but most were longer than 16 inches and three exceeded 20 inches. Middle Spunk Lake is one of the few lakes in the Sauk Rapids Area to support a Tullibee population. However, the Tullibee catch was lower than in 2008 and the lowest recorded from all surveys. Tullibee lengths ranged from 7.5 to 14.6 inches with a mean length of 10.1 inches. Tullibee need cold, well oxygenated water; a warmer climate may be hindering Tullibee survival. Bluegill numbers were higher than 2008, but within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 2.5 to 7.8 inches with an average length of 4.9 inches. Black Crappie numbers were below the expected range and similar to 2008. Black crappie lengths ranged from 7.6 to 8.3 inches, with an average length of 8.1 inches. Only four Yellow Perch were caught in the survey; perch abundance is likely hindered by high numbers of Northern Pike. Other species captured included: Bowfin (Dogfish), Common Carp, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Bullhead. An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) survey was also conducted on Middle Spunk Lake in August; results from this survey will be summarized in a separate report.

Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre general development lake located partly within the City of Avon in north central Stearns County. The lake is deep (81 feet) and clear (secchi depth nine feet). Aquatic vegetation was found growing to a maximum depth of 19 feet. Muskgrass was the only species of 38 aquatic plants that was common in abundance. Curly leaf pondweed was found growing at or near the surface on 1.3 acres, or less than 1% of the lake, in June. This was the first survey since 1998. Gill net catches of northern pike and walleye declined significantly; and no yellow perch were taken. The net catch of northern pike declined but the average weight increased. Anglers can expect to catch fish more that average three pounds. Northern pike ranged in length from 16 to 32 inches. Forty-three percent of northern pike were greater than 24 inches. The gill net catch for walleye was 0.50/lift, a significant decline from 1998. At this level of abundance only a rare walleye will show up in the creel. Yet walleye fingerlings have been stocked regularly since 1946 and every other year since 1987. All of the Spunk Lakes showed low catches of walleye (<2/lift) in 2008. No yellow perch were taken during the survey. This is critical considering the importance of perch in the diet of northern pike and walleye. Bass were sampled by electrofishing at night on June 4, 2008. A total of 50 largemouth and three smallmouth bass were captured. The catch rates were similar to the average catch rate of Stearns County lakes. Anglers can expect to catch largemouth bass of all sizes up to 18 inches. Largemouth grew to 12 inches in six years. Middle Spunk Lake is the last lake in the Montrose Area to support a significant tullibee population. Tullibee from ages 5-7 were absent. Otherwise, year classes 2-4 and 8-11 were represented. A late-summer temperature-oxygen profile done on August 10, 2006, measured five mg/l of dissolved oxygen down to only 18 feet (69.6�F). There seems to be little in the way of cool water habitat at Middle Spunk Lake. Bluegill were abundant in trap nets but black crappie were not. The average bluegill was five inches long and weighed 0.1 pounds. Bluegill grew to six inches in six years. Only five black crappie were collected in 2008: two in gill nets and three in trap nets. Black crappie catches have been historically low except for 1987 when the catch was above average. Nongame fish collected were black and yellow bullhead, white sucker, hybrid, green and pumpkinseed sunfish, bowfin, rock bass, and carp. Sensitive minnow species captured were banded killifish, and blacknose and blackchin shiners.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, and Walleye in Middle Spunk. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Middle Spunk has a maximum depth of 81 feet and a mean depth of 27.6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Middle Spunk is from 2023.

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