Minnesota · Hubbard County
Spider Lake Fishing guide
Spider Lake sits in Hubbard County, Minnesota, and covers 570 acres, reaching 96 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 26.1 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassGood numbers67.7per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 99 fish
2024Lengths measured · 109 fish
2019Lengths measured · 89 fish
2014Lengths measured · 78 fish
2009Northern pikeFair numbers9.3per gill net19"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 90 fish
2024Lengths measured · 9 fish
2020Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 80 fish
2019Lengths measured · 64 fish
2014Last recorded in the 1980 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few13.4per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 116 fish
2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2020Lengths measured · 91 fish
2019Lengths measured · 98 fish
2014CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 341 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 341 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2020Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 318 fish
2019Lengths measured · 93 fish
2014Rock bassExcellent numbers2.4per trap net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 19 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2020Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2019Lengths measured · 15 fish
2014Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Spider Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 26.1 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 96 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 26.1 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 96 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19" | 33" | 23" |
| 2020 | — | 29" | — |
| 2019 | 18" | 30" | 25" |
| 2014 | 18" | 37" | 25" |
| 2009 | 17" | 34" | 28" |
| 2004 | 9" | 30" | 30" |
| 2001 | 11" | 32" | 22" |
| 1998 | 19" | 23" | 21" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Spider Lake on August 1st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 89.9 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 16.5 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 37.4 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 20.9 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 5.9 degrees C (42.6 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2020 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Spider Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Spider Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Spider Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Spider Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Crow Wing Lake · 47 ac · 0.8 mi
- Deer Lake · 181 ac · 1.6 mi
- Shallow Lake · 284 ac · 2.1 mi
- Middle Crooked Lake · 289 ac · 2.4 mi
- East Crooked Lake · 379 ac · 2.8 mi
- Owl Lake · 90 ac · 2.8 mi
- West Crooked Lake · 270 ac · 3.1 mi
- Round Lake · 45 ac · 3.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Spider Lake?
Spider Lake reaches 96 ft at its deepest point; about 71% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Spider Lake?
Spider Lake covers 570 acres with about 13.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Spider Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Spider Lake average 26.1 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Spider Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Spider Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Spider Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Spider Lake have a public access?
Yes. Spider Lake has one public access site: Spider Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Spider Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1998.
When was Spider Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Spider Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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