Spider Lake
Spider Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 1392.46 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 1,392 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Spider Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Spider Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Spider Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Spider Lake is a 1,392-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Spider Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Spider Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spider Lake in Itasca 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 Spider Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Spider Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (183,654 cells/mL) on May 9, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,392 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 20.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spider LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spider Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.11 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 18.50 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.17 | 0.71 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.01 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 4.64 | — |
| BKF | 4.43 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2024-07-01 survey
Spider Lake is in ecological lake class 25 and is located 8 miles southeast of Marcell, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 1,349 acres and has a maximum depth of 36 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area fisheries staff beginning on 1 July, 2024. Eighteen sampling sites…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spider Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpiderFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Spider (0799)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SpiderFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpiderPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1998-04-12 (1998) | 1996-05-09 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2004-11-25 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-02
Graded lakes near Spider Lake
Spider Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Spider Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spider Lake?
- Spider Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 1392.46 acres.
Is Spider Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Spider Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Spider Lake?
- Spider Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 1392.46 acres.
What fish are in Spider Lake?
- Fish species found in Spider Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Spider Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Spider Lake thaw?
- Spider Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Does Spider Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Spider Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (183,654 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Spider Lake?
- Spider Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spider Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spider Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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State Parks Near Spider Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
140 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
MNPCA140 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated 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