Little Spirit Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Little Spirit Lake is mapped to a depth of 5 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 625 acres in Jackson County, Minnesota.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 5 ft
- Surface area
- 625 acres
- Shoreline
- 9.68 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Little Spirit Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details1 contour
- Contour depths
- 0–5 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 5 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 43.50277, -95.12284
- MN DNR lake ID
- 32002400
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.0 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Little Spirit Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, little nearby major-road exposure.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 11.2 of 35 | 38% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (25% forest, 10% wetland; 18% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 17.6 of 29 | mean fetch 1,068 m · 3% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 1 DNR public access site · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Excellent | 14.8 of 18 | relatively isolated from major roads · 6 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 621 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 2% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Limited — 25% forest and 10% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking14 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Common Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Shortnose Gar
Freshwater Drum
White Sucker
Quillback
Gizzard Shad
White Bass
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Channel Catfish 19 · Walleye 17
Panfish Black Crappie 150 · Yellow Perch 40 · Bluegill 9
All survey species14 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2017–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
listed via connectionFish
- Bighead CarpListed in 2012 because this water is connected water. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
- Silver CarpListed in 2012 because this water is connected water. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Little Spirit Lake — common questions
How deep is Little Spirit Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Little Spirit Lake is 5 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Little Spirit Lake?
Little Spirit Lake covers about 625 acres in Jackson County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Little Spirit Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, freshwater drum. The page lists all 14 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Little Spirit Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on Little Spirit Lake: a boat ramp with a boat dock. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "5 mi S of Jackson on US Hwy 71, then 6 mi W on Cnty Rd 4, then W and S to N shore."
