Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 4, 2025
Stella Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Stella Lake average 16.84 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–8 inches. In Meeker County, Minnesota, Stella Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 7.5 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 Stella Lake
15 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 Stella 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 Stella 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 Stella Lake average 16.84 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–8 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Stella Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.84 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.27 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.75 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 9.99 | 0.67 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Stella is a moderate-sized lake (599 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Stella has almost five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventy-five feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stella Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StellaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StellaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Stella Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Stella Lake average 16.84 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–8 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 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 Stella Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Stella Lake is dated August 4, 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 Stella Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Stella 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 Stella Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Stella Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Stella Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Stella Lake
Planning a trip to Stella Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Stella Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.