Stump Lake

How big is Stump Lake?

How deep is Stump Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Stump Lake?

What are the closest cities to Stump Lake?

Are there boat launches on Stump Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Stump Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Stump Lake?

Stump Lake is a 290-acre impoundment of the Mississippi River located approximately four miles downstream of Lake Bemidji in Beltrami County. The maximum depth is 24 feet but most of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. Most of the shoreline of the lake is in private ownership. There is no direct Public access to Stump Lake. Most boaters access Stump Lake via the Mississippi River from Lake Bemidji. This stretch of the river has a no-wake limit to boat speed, which makes the four mile trip from Lake Bemidji an hour-long boat ride. Stump Lake is a popular destination for canoeists, accessing from Lake Bemidji, traversing the Mississippi to Stump Lake and exiting by portage around the Ottertail Power Dam off of CSAH 12 (four miles east of Bemidji). There is a remote campsite on Stump accessible by canoe. Anglers who make the effort to access Stump Lake often find it worthwhile, as accessibility tends to keeps fishing pressure at low levels.

The fish community of Stump Lake consists of panfish (including black crappie), northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, sucker/redhorse and bullhead species. There are no special regulations implemented on Stump Lake, and statewide fishing regulations apply to all species.

Results of the 2011 Stump Lake population assessment show a good bluegill population with the trap net catch rate (21.5/TN) approaching the upper quartile value for class 35 lakes (28.1/TN). Average size was 7.7 inches in length and 0.41 pounds, which is very respectable. The size distribution of the catch shows a good proportion of the population over 8 inches in length, and a majority of the catch between 7 and 8 inches in length. These fish should provide good angling opportunity in the near future. The absence of smaller bluegill in the assessment (< 5 inches in length) suggests that natural reproduction has been inconsistent in recent years, which is likely related to cold spring and early summer weather patterns. This is not unusual and happens from time to time here near the northern limit of this species' distribution. Growth rates for bluegill have slowed somewhat from the last assessment (2001) but are still comparable to other class 35 lakes in the area. Growth rates tend to fluctuate with population density and slow as the population level increases, which has been the case in Stump Lake. Stump Lake bluegill are capable of reaching 8 inches in length at age-6, and 9 inches in length at age-9. Bluegill can live over 10 years. The 2011 population assessment also turned up large pumpkinseed sunfish (up to 8 inches in length) and hybrid (bluegill X pumpkinseed) sunfish up to 9.5 inches in length in good numbers. Stump Lake contains diverse and high quality fish habitat for sunfish, such as abundant aquatic vegetation, bulrush, and fallen trees.

Black crappie were captured at 0.9/TN in 2011, which is above the third quartile value for lake class (0.7/TN) but below the historic average of 1.2/TN. Historically, black crappie have never been present in high numbers in Stump Lake, but the population has provided consistent fishing through the years with quality-size fish. Black crappie captured in 2011 had an average length of 10.4 inches, with fish up to 11.3 inches in length present in the sample. As with sunfish, habitat for black crappie in Stump Lake is very good, although the amount of deepwater habitat, which crappie utilize extensively throughout the year, is relatively small.

Stump Lake has a reputation for producing quality largemouth bass fishing. Bass are a primary management species, along with bluegill and black crappie. No assessment of the bass population was conducted in 2011, but previous assessments have documented a good size structure and large fish present. Virtually the entire lake is quality bass habitat, and bass anglers should find no shortage of spots or potential fishing techniques. As with most Bemidji area lakes, fishing pressure for largemouth bass on Stump Lake is low to moderate, and bass anglers can often have the lake to themselves.

Although not considered a high quality walleye lake, Stump Lake does hold a population of walleye and likely benefits from its direct connection to Lake Bemidji, which is one of the best walleye lakes in the area. Trap net catch rates for walleye (0.4/TN) were above the first quartile value for lake class (0.25/TN). Walleye captured in the 2011 assessment had a large average size of 24.1 inches in length and 4.6 pounds/fish. Trap nets tend to catch walleye at night, and their presence in the catch indicates that walleye are actively cruising shallow shoreline areas after dark. The inundated channel of the Mississippi River, with its drop offs and sharp outside bends provides some of the best walleye habitat in Stump Lake, although there are numerous rock outcroppings and walleye will often utilize weedlines in the summer and early fall.

The northern pike population of Stump Lake is currently being impacted by very low densities of yellow perch, which are a primary forage species for pike. Pike captured in the 2011 assessment were thin and in poor condition. Hopefully yellow perch abundance in Stump Lake will rebound in the near future and help to bolster the beleaguered pike population.

No muskellunge were captured in the 2011 assessment, but muskellunge are known to be present in Stump Lake.

What is the average air temp for Stump Lake?

Are there any state parks near Stump Lake?