Stanchfield Lake

How big is Stanchfield Lake?

How deep is Stanchfield Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Stanchfield Lake?

What are the closest cities to Stanchfield Lake?

Are there boat launches on Stanchfield Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Stanchfield Lake?

Stanchfield Lake is a small, secluded, clear water lake in northwest Morrison County. It is one of a few Morrison County lakes which still retains its pristine beauty, being almost free of development. Although the road into the lake was improved this fall, the access was not upgraded and remains gravel and the turn-around narrow. The lake occasionally suffers from partial winterkills with the last one occurring in the winter of 1998-99. Stanchfield does not have a great diversity of fish species in its water, but the lake can still provide some good fishing opportunities. Bluegills and northern pike are abundant with both populations dominated by small fish. While the average size of the bluegills seen in the nets was about 5 inches, larger fish were observed. All of the northern pike sampled in the assessment were less than 25 inches in length with an average weight of 1.2 pounds. The largemouth bass population suffered a setback from the last winterkill and numbers appeared low when compared to similar type lakes. Prespawn adult bass were stocked in the spring of 1999 to supplement the population. Black crappies were observed in the lake for the first time. Yellow perch numbers were within the normal range for the lake type, but their numbers could be negatively impacted by the high pike population. Perch can be an important food species for the pike and can also be instrumental in helping maintain a well balanced bluegill population with fast growing, quality individuals. Yellow bullheads appear to be over abundant with an average size of 7 - 8 inches, however individuals up to 12 inches were observed. Also sampled in the lake were white suckers. Neascus or black spot was common on the northern pike and some of the yellow perch. Neascus is a trematode or parasite that is usually found in the skin of fish. The life cycle of the parasite also includes snails and fish-eating birds, such as herons and bitterns. Skinning the fish removes most of the parasites and cooking will kill the rest. Humans cannot be infested. Due to Stanchfield Lake's small size, fish populations can be more easily affected by fishing pressure than larger bodies of water. Anglers are encouraged to keep the small northern pike under 24 inches to promote a more balanced fish community. Keeping only enough bluegills for a meal and releasing more of the larger fish should help the size structure of the population.

What is the average air temp for Stanchfield Lake?

Are there any state parks near Stanchfield Lake?