Middle Spunk Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota236 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Middle Spunk Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 81 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Middle Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 235.74 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Middle Spunk Lake. DNR survey details →
Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 81 feet (28-foot average). The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Middle Spunk Lake covers about 240 acres in Stearns County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 11, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Middle Spunk Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Middle Spunk Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 11
- Deep water81 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Middle 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 Middle Spunk Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Middle 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 12 ft. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Middle Spunk Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Middle Spunk Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 73°F) and coldest in Jun (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 67 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Spunk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Middle Spunk Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Middle Spunk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-19 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2023-06-19 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.91 | 3–8 in 2023-06-19 | 0.11 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.00 | ||
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 13.91 | 6–15 in 2023-06-19 | 0.67 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.13 | 5–18 in 2023-06-19 | 0.92 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.61 | 13–33 in 2023-06-19 | 2.42 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.67 | 4–8 in 2023-06-19 | 0.19 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
Tullibee (Cisco)
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2023-06-19 survey
Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre lake located within the city limits of Avon in central Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 81 feet and a large watershed dominated by row crops, forest, and pasture. A city owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake. A standard summer survey was conducted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Middle 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 — Middle SpunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Middle Spunk (1992)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Middle SpunkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Middle SpunkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
81 ft
Average depth
27.6 ft
Surface area
236 acres
Shoreline
4.5 mi
Littoral zone
34%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
18 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,109 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Middle 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 Middle Spunk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle 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 Middle 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 Middle Spunk Lake
- → Middle Spunk Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Middle Spunk Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Middle Spunk Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Middle Spunk Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 11
Earliest Mar 20, 2012 · Latest Apr 24, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 3
Earliest Nov 26, 2003 · Latest Dec 12, 2008
Most recent ice-out
Mar 20
2012
16 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Spunk Lake
Where is Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle 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 Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 235.74 acres.
Is Middle Spunk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 67 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake has a maximum depth of 81 feet and an average depth of 27.6 feet. The lake covers 235.74 acres.
What fish are in Middle Spunk Lake?
- Fish species found in Middle Spunk Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Middle Spunk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Middle Spunk Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Middle Spunk Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Middle Spunk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
When does Middle Spunk Lake thaw?
- Middle Spunk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle Spunk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle 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 Middle Spunk Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
86 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA86 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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