Stump Lake
Stump Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 322.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 323 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
Next lake in Beltrami County
Stump Lake is a 323-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Stump Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Stump Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Stump Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stump Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Stump Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Stump Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 37 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stump Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 323 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stump Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.16 | 0.33 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 24.72 | 0.81 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.00 | 0.22 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.48 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.80 | 0.68 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 6.74 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-07-25 survey
Stump Lake is a 323 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. There are no public boat ramps on Stump Lake but many access the lake via the Mississippi River from…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stump Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StumpFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StumpPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.324 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2019-04-23 (2019) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-20 (2003) | 2003-11-20 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stump Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Bemidji (completed 1907), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Mississippi River; gravity-type dam, 33 ft tall and 60 ft long.
- Surface area
- 201 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 626 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Ottertail Power Co
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00504 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Stump Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0130-01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Stump Lake
What is the water quality grade for Stump Lake?
- Stump Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 322.92 acres.
Is Stump Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Stump Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Stump Lake?
- Stump Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 37 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stump Lake?
- Stump Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 322.92 acres.
What fish are in Stump Lake?
- Fish species found in Stump Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Stump Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Stump Lake thaw?
- Stump Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23.
Explore Stump Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Stump Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
117 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA117 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate