Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 21, 2022
Spirit Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Spirit Lake average 30.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 21, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–17 inches. In Wadena County, Minnesota, Spirit Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 15.4 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 Spirit Lake
8 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 Spirit Lake
No stocking record for Spirit 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 Spirit 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 Spirit Lake average 30.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 21, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–17 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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: 2022-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (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 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.
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
Common questions
What fish are in Spirit Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Spirit Lake average 30.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 21, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–17 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 Spirit Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Spirit Lake is dated June 21, 2022. 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 Spirit Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Spirit 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 Spirit Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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.
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