Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 25, 2025
Stay Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Stay Lake average 11.16 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 25, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches. In Lincoln County, Minnesota, Stay Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 1.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Stay Lake
12 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Stay Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Stay Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Stay Lake average 11.16 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 25, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Stay Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 69.53 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 52.65 | 0.23 lb |
| Common Carp | 19.68 | 2.02 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.15 | 0.35 lb |
| Walleye | 11.16 | 2.49 lb |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 4.11 | 2.28 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Common Carp
Black Crappie
From the 2025-08-25 survey
East Stay Lake is a shallow (max depth of 6 ft.) 224-acre, class 42 lake, located in Lincoln County. Despite aeration, partial winterkills occasionally occur. East Stay Lake has one of the few remaining natural spawning runs for Northern Pike in Windom fisheries management area, as it is connected to several shallow…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stay Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StayFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Stay Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Stay Lake average 11.16 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 25, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 12 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Stay Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Stay Lake is dated August 25, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Stay Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Stay Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Stay Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Stay Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Stay Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Stay Lake
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