Spider

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 (100 feet long) were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-ft or 50-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at 10 sites using the 15-ft seine and 3 sites with the 50-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 18 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 16 different species: 10 species by seining and 13 species by backpack electrofishing. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report. Nearshore catches will be used with the gill net and trap net data from targeted surveys conducted on 16 August, 2021 and 7 July, 2024, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Trap Netting: Spider Lake was scheduled for near-shore index of biological integrity (IBI) sampling in 2024 as part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) watershed sampling rotation. Spider was previously surveyed in 2021, when a gill net only survey was conducted. The 2021 survey was within the time frame for inclusion with the IBI survey. However, the IBI survey requires a trap netting component, and that portion was conducted in 2024 to complete the requirements for the IBI survey. Twelve trap nets were set at standard locations with one net excluded due to tampering. Ageing structures were not collected in this survey. The lake management plan lists Black Crappie as a secondary management species with no management objectives. Two crappie were sampled at a rate of 0.2/trap net, below the lake class first quartile (0.8/net). Past trap net catches have been variable, ranging from 0.5 to 18.3/net. One fish was 8.9 and the other 10.5 inches. Bluegill were the most abundant species sampled, at a rate of 16.1/trap net, near the lake class median. Past catches have been mostly consistent, from 18.2 to 39.1/net, and above average for the lake type. Size structure was poor and similar to past sampling. Lengths ranged from 3.2 to 7.7 inches with an average of 5.2 inches. Other species sampled include Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Spider Lake on June 6, 2024, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 86 survey sites evenly spaced 400 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: the shoreline zone (i.e., the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), the shoreland zone (i.e., land-ward from shoreline to developed structure or 100 feet), and the aquatic zone (i.e., lake-ward 50 feet from the shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 89.5 (+/- 1.1) out of 100 possible. A score of 89.5 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is high (i.e., 85-91.9). Approximately 8 percent of the sites were developed, with a mean score of 64.5 (+/- 6.0) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is poor (i.e., 50-65.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 91.7 (+/- 0.7) with high (i.e., 85-91.9) habitat quality.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Spider Lake on June 6, 2024, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 86 survey sites evenly spaced 400 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: the shoreline zone (i.e., the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), the shoreland zone (i.e., land-ward from shoreline to developed structure or 100 feet), and the aquatic zone (i.e., lake-ward 50 feet from the shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 89.5 (+/- 1.1) out of 100 possible. A score of 89.5 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is high (i.e., 85-91.9). Approximately 8 percent of the sites were developed, with a mean score of 64.5 (+/- 6.0) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is poor (i.e., 50-65.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 91.7 (+/- 0.7) with high (i.e., 85-91.9) habitat quality.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, and Black Crappie in Spider. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Spider. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Spider has a maximum depth of 36 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Spider is from 2024.

Yes — Spider has confirmed flowering rush. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 1 special rule for Spider, covering northern pike. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.