Minnesota · Scott County
Spring Lake Fishing guide
Spring Lake covers 592 acres in Scott County, Minnesota, reaching 37 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 19 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers11.3per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 147 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 81 fish
2024Lengths measured · 66 fish
2021Lengths measured · 40 fish
2018Lengths measured · 31 fish
2015Largemouth bassJust a few9.5per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2024Lengths measured · 22 fish
2021Lengths measured · 39 fish
2015Lengths measured · 47 fish
2012Northern pikeJust a few5.9per gill net25"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 48 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2021Lengths measured · 23 fish
2018Lengths measured · 6 fish
2015Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillFair numbers39.4per trap net3"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 735 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 551 fish
2024Lengths measured · 184 fish
2021Lengths measured · 84 fish
2018Lengths measured · 96 fish
2015CrappieOne of the best around47.3per trap net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1053 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 631 fish
2024Lengths measured · 422 fish
2021Lengths measured · 425 fish
2018Lengths measured · 269 fish
2015Yellow perchExcellent numbers15.4per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 233 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 107 fish
2024Lengths measured · 126 fish
2021Lengths measured · 230 fish
2018Lengths measured · 500 fish
2015No recent survey rating.
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 Spring Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. In 3.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27" | 18" | 37" |
| 2021 | 25" | 18" | 37" |
| 2018 | 26" | — | 35" |
| 2015 | 23" | 18" | 25" |
| 2012 | 19" | 15" | 31" |
| 2010 | 27" | 14" | 33" |
| 2008 | 28" | 17" | 37" |
| 2006 | 28" | 11" | 36" |
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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
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 | Walleye | 4,930 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 5,708 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 4,350 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,030 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 8,970 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 633 fingerlings · 56 yearlings · 46 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
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.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Spring Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Spring 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
- Spring Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Spring Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Upper Prior Lake · 386 ac · 1.6 mi
- Crystal Lake · 31 ac · 1.8 mi
- Fish Lake · 176 ac · 3.2 mi
- O'Dowd Lake · 301 ac · 3.6 mi
- Lower Prior Lake · 956 ac · 3.8 mi
- Cleary Lake · 145 ac · 4.1 mi
- Thole Lake · 119 ac · 4.1 mi
- Cynthia Lake · 196 ac · 4.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Spring Lake?
Spring Lake reaches 37 ft at its deepest point; about 49% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Spring Lake?
Spring Lake covers 592 acres with about 4.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Spring Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Spring Lake average 3.4 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, white bass.
Is Spring Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Spring Lake have a public access?
Yes. Spring Lake has one public access site: Spring Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Spring Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2006.
When was Spring Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Spring Lake in 2025, the most recent of 19 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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