Big Spunk Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota415 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Spunk Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
Big Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 415.27 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 0.56 northern pike per trap net at Big Spunk Lake. DNR survey details →
Big Spunk Lake is a 415-acre mesotrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet (16-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Big Spunk Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Big Spunk Lake covers about 420 acres in Stearns County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 8, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Big Spunk Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Big Spunk Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
- Deep water38 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Spunk Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Big Spunk Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Big Spunk Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Big Spunk Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.7 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Big Spunk Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Big Spunk Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 227 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Spunk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Spunk Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (77,983 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 0.56 northern pike per trap net at Big Spunk Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Spunk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-09-05 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2023-09-05 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 45.72 | 2–9 in 2023-09-05 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.58 | 1–2 in 2008-07-07 | |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.91 | 10–11 in 2023-09-05 | 0.69 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Bluntnose Minnow
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-09-05 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Spunk Lake was conducted on September 5-7, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Spunk Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big SpunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Spunk (1987)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big SpunkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big SpunkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Average depth
15.9 ft
Surface area
415 acres
Shoreline
4.9 mi
Littoral zone
36%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
15 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,106 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Spunk LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big Spunk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Spunk Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Spunk Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-3.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.9 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 13, 2012 · Latest May 3, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 11, 2021 · Latest Dec 14, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Apr 23
2022
22 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Big Spunk Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0117-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Big Spunk Lake
Where is Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 415.27 acres.
Is Big Spunk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Spunk Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in October, from 227 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet and an average depth of 15.9 feet. The lake covers 415.27 acres.
What fish are in Big Spunk Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Spunk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Spunk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Spunk Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 0.56 northern pike per trap net at Big Spunk Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Spunk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Big Spunk Lake thaw?
- Big Spunk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 235 days.
Does Big Spunk Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Spunk Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (77,983 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Spunk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Spunk Lake?
- Big Spunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Big Spunk Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Compare Big Spunk Lake With Nearby Lakes
Stearns County · 6 ft
Stearns County · 3.9 ft
Stearns County · 3 ft
Stearns County · 3.5 ft
Stearns County · 3.9 ft
Stearns County · 8 ft
Where this data comes from
347 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA347 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate