Spirit Lake
Wadena County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Spirit Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.4 ft and 12 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI value of 39 puts Spirit Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 45 ft puts Spirit Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 114 acres, Spirit Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 1.8 miles of shoreline. Within Wadena County's 4 graded waters, Spirit Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Spirit Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 8 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Spirit Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 30 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 16. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.4 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 113.9 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 57% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Spirit Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Spirit Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Spirit Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.215 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (53 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Wadena County
Nearby Lakes in Wadena County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 30.09 | 0.72 lb |
| Bluegill | 17.52 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.35 | 1.52 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.23 | 0.49 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.20 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.61 | 0.13 lb |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-06-21 survey
Spirit Lake is located in Menahga in northern Wadena County. Spirit has a surface area of 114 acres and a maximum depth of 45 feet. A city owned public access is located on the northeast shore of the lake off 1st Street. Spirit provides angling opportunities for Largemouth Bass, panfish and Northern Pike. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spirit Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpiritFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Spirit (1326)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpiritPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-24
Monitoring stations: 2