Minnesota · Itasca County
Spider Lake Fishing guide
Spider Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 1,393 acres, reaching 36 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.3per gill net17"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 21 fish
2016Lengths measured · 19 fish
2010Lengths measured · 34 fish
2005Largemouth bassFair numbers21.5per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 92 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 87 fish
2021Lengths measured · 92 fish
2016Lengths measured · 66 fish
2010Smallmouth bassFair numbers9.3per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 39 fish
2021Lengths measured · 71 fish
2016Lengths measured · 36 fish
2010Lengths measured · 55 fish
2005Northern pikeFair numbers6.9per gill net23"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 89 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 83 fish
2021Lengths measured · 188 fish
2016Lengths measured · 108 fish
2010Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
BluegillJust a few16.1per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 508 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 177 fish
2024Lengths measured · 331 fish
2021Lengths measured · 775 fish
2016Lengths measured · 438 fish
2010CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 36 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2010Yellow perchGood numbers10.2per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 126 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2024Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 122 fish
2021Lengths measured · 412 fish
2016Lengths measured · 122 fish
2010Last recorded in the 2007 survey and not seen since.
Rates 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
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 18" | — |
| 2021 | 26" | 19" | 18" |
| 2016 | 26" | 18" | 19" |
| 2010 | 26" | 16" | 17" |
| 2005 | 27" | 18" | 16" |
| 1999 | 24" | 12" | 15" |
| 1994 | 27" | 16" | 16" |
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:
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 152 yearlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 9,539 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 137 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 8,723 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 9,824 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 10,560 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 10,080 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Muskellunge | 135 yearlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 10,340 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 740 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 11,468 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 10,080 fingerlings |
Stocking records before 2018 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Spider Lake on June 6, 2024, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 86 survey sites evenly spaced 400 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: the shoreline zone (i.e., the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), the shoreland zone (i.e., land-ward from shoreline to developed structure or 100 feet), and the aquatic zone (i.e., lake-ward 50 feet from the shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 89.5 (+/- 1.1) out of 100 possible. A score of 89.5 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is high (i.e., 85-91.9). Approximately 8 percent of the sites were developed, with a mean score of 64.5 (+/- 6.0) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is poor (i.e., 50-65.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 91.7 (+/- 0.7) with high (i.e., 85-91.9) habitat quality.
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
- Little Long Lake · 305 ac · 1.8 mi
- Ruby Lake · 235 ac · 2.2 mi
- Bee Cee Lake · 29 ac · 2.4 mi
- Trout Lake · 1,743 ac · 2.5 mi
- Burnt Shanty Lake · 198 ac · 3 mi
- Moonshine Lake · 26 ac · 3.1 mi
- Black Island Lake · 117 ac · 3.2 mi
- Sand Lake · 195 ac · 3.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Spider Lake?
Spider Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point; about 53% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Spider Lake?
Spider Lake covers 1,393 acres with about 20.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Spider Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Spider Lake average 8.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Spider Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge, rock bass.
Is Spider Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Spider Lake have a public access?
Yes. Spider Lake has one public access site: Spider Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Spider Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Spider Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Spider Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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