Spring Lake (Polk County)
Polk County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 60001200
DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Spring Lake (Polk County) since 2016, most recently walleye yearlings in 2024 (510 fish).
- Spring Lake (Polk County) has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2016-2024): walleye (5).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 4,006 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 35 ft; surface area 134 acres, 44 littoral acres, 3.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 7.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Polk County, nearest town Lengby; DNR lake number (DOW) 60001200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | yearlings | 510 | 60.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fingerlings | 968 | 44.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye | yearlings | 660 | 44.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fingerlings | 968 | 44.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fingerlings | 900 | 45.0 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | city | Lengby city park on north central shore at west end swimming beach. - Parking available for at least six rigs. |
| gravel ramp | city | Lengby city park on north central shore at east end swimming beach- (old access) - Lengby city park on north central shore at east end swimming beach (old access) |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 18.33 | 165 | 0.09 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 4.00 | 36 | 0.13 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 2.33 | 21 | 0.41 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 2.22 | 20 | 0.11 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 1.22 | 11 | 0.13 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.21 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.11 | 1 | 1.44 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 16.25 | 65 | 0.11 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 12.00 | 48 | 0.08 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 10.75 | 43 | 3.31 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 2.00 | 8 | 0.53 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 4 | 3.04 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 2 | 2.92 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 2 | 0.04 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 0.25 | 1 | 0.11 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Spring Lake is a small lake that supports a panfish and pike community along with a few Walleyes. On 07/31/2023, the fish community of Spring Lake was surveyed. Results of the 2023 lake assessment indicate that the lake holds fair numbers of panfish such as Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch. Bluegill numbers have been increasing, but the size structure of individuals remains on the small side with an average length of five inches. Black Crappie captured during the survey ranged from seven to 11 inches. Yellow Perch averaged six inches in length. Predatory fish like Northern Pike and Walleye were also present although they are naturally not as abundant as their prey. Pike numbers were up in 2023 and the average size was good as well, with an average length of 24 inches. The modest Walleye fishery is sustained by stocking since Walleye do not reproduce naturally in this lake due to the lack of acceptable spawning and rearing habitat. Only five Walleye were captured in the 2023 assessment and these fish averaged a little over 19 inches. No Largemouth Bass were captured during the 2023 survey, but this is a common occurrence with the sampling gear that was used. Even with good growth rates, moderate amounts of fishing pressure in a small lake like Spring can keep the average sizes of fish small unless anglers release a portion of the larger fish back into the lake. Due to its location in an area with fewer permanent fishing lakes, Spring Lake receives a moderate or higher amount of angling pressure. The lake's size and proximity to the city of Lengby make input of sediment and nutrients from human activities a concern. Although the lakeshore is not as heavily developed, a 134-acre lake like Spring cannot sustain large nutrient loads without experiencing algal blooms and other symptoms of nutrient enrichment. Watershed residents need to be aware that what they do on their lands may affect water quality in the lake. Maintaining or improving the lake's current water quality and habitat conditions can benefit all users of this lake.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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