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| Nearest Town: Spring Lake (Scott) Primary County: Scott Survey Date: 08/02/2010 Inventory Number: 70005400 |
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| Ownership | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DNR | Concrete | State owned access on southwest shore |
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Lake Area (acres): 591.84 |
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A |
| Did you know? The state operates 17 hatcheries: 5 for trout and salmon and 12 for coolwater species. |
| Species | Number of fish per net | Average Fish Weight (lbs) |
Normal Range (lbs) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caught | |||||
| Black Bullhead | Trap net | 0.88 | 0.7 - 25.7 | 1.13 | 0.3 - 0.6 |
| Gill net | 2.50 | 2.5 - 45.0 | 0.86 | 0.3 - 0.7 | |
| Black Crappie | Trap net | 27.00 | 1.8 - 21.2 | 0.30 | 0.2 - 0.3 |
| Gill net | 61.50 | 2.5 - 16.5 | 0.25 | 0.1 - 0.3 | |
| Bluegill | Trap net | 7.12 | 7.5 - 62.5 | 0.21 | 0.1 - 0.3 |
| Gill net | 6.00 | N/A | 0.27 | N/A | |
| Common Carp | Trap net | 0.38 | 0.4 - 2.0 | 8.85 | 2.6 - 6.0 |
| Gill net | 0.17 | 0.3 - 3.0 | 8.71 | 1.9 - 5.2 | |
| Golden Shiner | Gill net | 4.00 | 0.3 - 1.5 | 0.13 | 0.1 - 0.1 |
| Hybrid Sunfish | Trap net | 0.12 | N/A | 0.26 | N/A |
| Gill net | 0.17 | N/A | 0.29 | N/A | |
| Largemouth Bass | Trap net | 0.38 | 0.2 - 0.7 | 0.98 | 0.2 - 0.9 |
| Northern Pike | Gill net | 2.83 | 1.5 - 7.3 | 2.56 | 2.0 - 3.5 |
| Pumpkinseed | Trap net | 0.38 | 0.7 - 4.2 | 0.06 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Gill net | 0.17 | N/A | ND | N/A | |
| Walleye | Trap net | 0.62 | 0.3 - 1.2 | 0.36 | 0.8 - 2.8 |
| Gill net | 5.33 | 1.2 - 6.3 | 2.10 | 1.2 - 2.7 | |
| White Bass | Gill net | 0.17 | 0.3 - 3.8 | 1.44 | N/A |
| White Sucker | Trap net | 0.62 | 0.2 - 1.0 | 2.72 | 1.6 - 2.8 |
| Gill net | 10.33 | 0.4 - 2.2 | 2.32 | 1.5 - 2.4 | |
| Yellow Bullhead | Trap net | 0.38 | 0.9 - 5.7 | 0.76 | 0.5 - 0.8 |
| Gill net | 2.17 | 0.5 - 7.5 | 1.26 | 0.5 - 0.8 | |
| Yellow Perch | Trap net | 1.00 | 0.3 - 1.7 | 0.07 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Gill net | 4.50 | 2.0 - 27.9 | 0.16 | 0.1 - 0.2 | |
| Species | Number of fish caught in each category (inches) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | 6-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30+ | Total | |
| black bullhead | 2 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| black crappie | 31 | 538 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 585 |
| bluegill | 24 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93 |
| common carp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| golden shiner | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| hybrid sunfish | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| largemouth bass | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| northern pike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| pumpkinseed | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| walleye | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 37 |
| white bass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| white sucker | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67 |
| yellow bullhead | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| yellow perch | 9 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| For the record, the largest Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) taken in Minnesota weighed 35 lbs., 3.2 oz. and was caught:
When: 10/5/99 Statistics: 36" length, 31" girth |
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Walleye | fingerlings | 8,988 | 321.0 |
| 2010 | Walleye* | yearlings | 3,739 | 239.7 |
| 2009 | Walleye | fingerlings | 6,208 | 339.8 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 3,166 | 173.0 | |
| 2007 | Walleye | fingerlings | 6,629 | 579.7 |
| 2006 | Walleye | fingerlings | 9,361 | 337.3 |
| 2005 | Walleye | fingerlings | 3,293 | 249.5 |
| 2003 | Walleye* | fingerlings | 6,877 | 579.5 |
| Privately Stocked Fish |
|---|
| * indicates privately stocked fish. Private stocking includes fish purchased by the DNR for stocking and fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups. |
| Stocking Fish Sizes |
|---|
| Fry - Newly hatched fish that are ready to be stocked usually called "swim-ups". Walleye fry are 1/3 of an inch or around 8 mm. |
| Fingerling - Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall. |
| Yearling - Yearling fish are at least one year old. A one-year-old fish can range from three to twenty inches depending on the species. Walleye yearlings average from six to twelve inches. |
| Adult - Adult fish are fish that have reached maturity. Depending on the species, maturity can be reached at two years of age. Walleye reach maturity between the ages of four and six years. |
These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelin es enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish.
Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15
| LAKE NAME County, DOWID |
Species | Meal Advice | Contaminants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 1 meal/week | 1 meal/month | Do not eat | |||
| SPRING Scott Co., 70005400 |
Bluegill Sunfish | All sizes | ||||
| Bullhead | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
| Carp | All sizes | |||||
| Crappie | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
| Northern Pike | shorter than 28" | 28" or longer | Mercury | |||
| Walleye | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
| White Sucker | All sizes | |||||
General Population
| LAKE NAME County, DOWID |
Species | Meal Advice | Contaminants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 1 meal/week | 1 meal/month | Do not eat | |||
| SPRING Scott Co., 70005400 |
Bluegill Sunfish | All sizes | ||||
| Bullhead | All sizes | |||||
| Carp | All sizes | |||||
| Crappie | All sizes | |||||
| Northern Pike | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
| Walleye | All sizes | |||||
| White Sucker | All sizes | |||||
DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.
Contaminants listed were measured at levels that trigger advice to limit consumption.
Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted.
Dioxin
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate
Spring Lake is a 591 acre lake with a maximum depth of 37 feet, located in north central Scott County. Spring Lake provides ample recreational opportunities. Fishing and boating are very popular. Water quality in Spring Lake is poor, compared to other West Metro lakes. By late summer most species of fish cannot inhabit water deeper than 12 feet for extended periods of time. Anglers should keep this in mind when pursuing walleye and crappie. Fishing in water deeper than 12 feet in mid to late summer could yield very few fish. Boaters should also keep in mind, new laws require the drain plug be removed while on public roadways.
The predator community in Spring Lake is expanding. Walleye average length was 16.7 inches. Average weight was 2.10 pounds, above average compared to similar lakes. Abundance was above average and showed an increase compared to the previous survey. Walleye fingerlings are stocked in odd numbered years. Nearly 70% of sampled fish were young fish, either age one or three. Northern pike numbers were on par with historic averages for Spring Lake. In the 2010 population assessment largemouth bass abundance increased compared to past surveys, and is average for lakes similar to Spring Lake. Standard lake survey gear does not consistently provide an accurate estimate of largemouth bass abundance. One 14.8 inch adult white bass was sampled. White bass were not seen in Spring Lake before 2000. Since then, they have been sampled in three different surveys.
Five species of panfish are present in Spring Lake. Black crappie abundance is high. Few large fish were sampled, but the average size has improved since the 2008 survey. Average length was 7.8 inches. Bluegill abundance decreased slightly and is below the average range for this type of lake. Spring Lake bluegill average size is very good, over 6.5 inches. Over 70% of sampled bluegill were greater than 6 inches. Nearly two-thirds were 7 inches or larger. Yellow perch abundance increased to a level within the average range. Mean weight of yellow perch was average. Average length was 6.8 inches. Pumpkinseed were sampled at a low abundance. Hybrid sunfish were also sampled.
Rough fish are present in below average numbers. Common carp abundance increased slightly since the 2008 survey, but remains below average. Black and yellow bullhead were sampled at below average abundance. White sucker abundance was high and average weight was above average.
On May 26th, 2010 a resident reported dead fish on the south shore of Spring Lake. Given the time of year, water temperature conditions at the time and recent past springtime fish kills, a bacterial-caused die-off is the prime suspect. In 2005 columnaris was confirmed as the cause of a similar fish kill. For fertile lakes that warm rapidly, this phenomenon is common. Based on biennial fish population assessments, these die offs have not caused noticeable declines in Spring Lake fish populations.
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For more information on this lake, contact:
Area Fisheries Supervisor | Lake maps can be obtained from: Minnesota Bookstore |
For general DNR Information, contact: DNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 TDD: (651) 296-6157 or (888) MINNDNR Internet: www.dnr.state.mn.us E-Mail: info.dnr@state.mn.us |  Turn in Poachers (TIP):Toll-free: (800) 652-9093 |
