Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Little Spirit Lake


About Little Spirit Lake

Surface Area (acres): 604.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 7.2 ft. (1974)
Motoring Restrictions: none
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Dickinson
Description: Little Spirit
Coordinates: 43.49743731, -95.12479106

Amenities

Amenities at Little Spirit Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Boat Rental
  • Camping
  • Good/Excellent Shorefishing
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Accessible Shoreline

Fishing Forecast

Walleye angling is open year round on this Iowa- Minnesota border lake. Excellent numbers of angler acceptable sized walleye. Find good numbers of quality (15- to 19-inch) size fish common in the catch. Little Spirit Lake was last stocked in 2017 (320,000 fry) which will add to the fisheries in the next few years. Good number of yellow perch approaching 7 inches is common in the lake and with continued good growth will provide an upswing to the fishery in the next few years. (2016)

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Stocking

  • 5/10/22 - 323,850 Walleye (Fry)
  • 05/06/2021 - 330,400 Walleye (Fry)

Management

  • 2015 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Winter D.O. readings were taken under the ice.
  • 2014 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Winter D.O. readings were taken under the ice.
  • 2013 - Fish Kills-Undetermined: The Minnesota DNR reported a large bullhead die off on the Lake on May 22nd. Thousands of dead bullheads were found dead along the shoreline.
  • 2010 - Commercial Fishing-Other: A total of 8,250 lbs (carp), 300 lbs (buffalo) and 00 lbs FWD for a total of 8,550 lbs of rough fish was removed by commercial fisherman.
  • 2010 - Other-Other: A fish barrier was constructed to replace the old Little Spirit lake barrier.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: none

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

  • Black Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 15 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black and white crappie, 15 fish
    • Length Limit:
    • Other:
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and any hybrids thereof), 30 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and any hybrids thereof), 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Open from May 3, 2014 through February 15, 2015
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: When fishing in water in which you are not licensed you must comply with the state having the more restrictive regulations.
  • Common Carp
    • Season: Open from sunrise to sunset May 1 through February 15
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Spearing and archery can be used during this time frame
  • Freshwater Drum
    • Season: Open from sunrise to sunset May 1 through February 15
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Spearing and archery can be used during this time frame
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and any hybrids thereof), 30 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and any hybrids thereof), 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Open from May 3, 2014 through February 15, 2015
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other: When fishing in water in which you are not licensed you must comply with the state having the more restrictive regulations.
  • Muskellunge
    • Season: Open from May 21 - November 30
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Length Limit: 40-inch minimum
    • Other: The regulations of each state shall be enforced for the water being fished.  The closed season and length limit of 40 inches for Iowa.  48 inch length limit and closed season in Minnesota.
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Open from May 3, 2014 through February 15, 2015
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 3 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: When fishing in water in which you are not licensed you must comply with the state having the more restrictive regulations.
  • Smallmouth Bass
    • Season: Open from May 3, 2014 through February 15, 2015
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other: When fishing in water in which you are not licensed you must comply with the state having the more restrictive regulations.
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 3 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: none
  • White Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 30 fish
    • Possession Limit: 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • White Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 15 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black and white crappie, 15 fish
    • Length Limit:
    • Other:
  • White Sucker
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Yellow Bullhead
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 30 fish
    • Possession Limit: 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Bighead Carp
  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Zebra Mussel

To learn more about AIS, visit the Iowa DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information and resources.

Fish Surveys

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