Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 12, 2023
Lower Spunk Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lower Spunk Lake average 9.72 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–33 inches. In Stearns County, Minnesota, Lower Spunk Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 9.5 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Lower Spunk Lake
13 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Lower Spunk Lake
No stocking record for Lower Spunk Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Lower Spunk Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lower Spunk Lake average 9.72 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–33 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Lower Spunk Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 28.51 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.41 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 9.72 | 1.68 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.16 | 0.93 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Lower Spunk Lake is a 280-acre lake located partly within the city limits of Avon in north central Stearns County. There is a public access located on the south side of the lake with room for eight vehicle/trailers. The water quality of Lower Spunk Lake is generally very good with a 10-year average Secchi reading of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Spunk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower SpunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Spunk (0280)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower SpunkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Lower Spunk Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lower Spunk Lake average 9.72 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–33 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Lower Spunk Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Lower Spunk Lake is dated June 12, 2023. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Lower Spunk Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Lower Spunk Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Lower Spunk Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Lower Spunk Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Lower Spunk Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Spunk Lake
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