Minnesota · Meeker County
Stella Lake Fishing guide
Stella Lake covers 599 acres in Meeker County, Minnesota, reaching 75 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 19 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers8per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 210 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 64 fish
2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 56 fish
2023Lengths measured · 88 fish
2021Largemouth bassFair numbers42.4per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 153 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2023Lengths measured · 108 fish
2021Smallmouth bassJust a few1.3per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 61 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2021Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2021Northern pikeFair numbers6.2per gill net23"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 166 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 55 fish
2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 78 fish
2023Lengths measured · 28 fish
2021BluegillJust a few14.6per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 942 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 598 fish
2025Lengths measured · 72 fish
2025Lengths measured · 131 fish
2024Lengths measured · 72 fish
2023CrappiePresent9.7per gill net6"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 340 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 88 fish
2025Lengths measured · 40 fish
2025Lengths measured · 138 fish
2023Lengths measured · 74 fish
2021Yellow perchJust a few0.5per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2025Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2023Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2021Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Stella Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 75 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 75 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26" | 16" | 31" |
| 2024 | 20" | 15" | 29" |
| 2023 | 27" | 16" | 33" |
| 2021 | 27" | 19" | 32" |
| 2020 | 26" | 17" | 29" |
| 2019 | 27" | 18" | 33" |
| 2014 | 25" | 19" | 32" |
| 2008 | 25" | 18" | 33" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 112,497 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 114,394 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 116,532 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 114,730 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 226,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Stella is a moderate-sized lake (599 acres) located south of the City of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is available on the south shore. Stella has almost five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventy-five feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Stella is a class 27 lake and another similar waterbody in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area is Minnie-Belle Lake in Meeker County.
Modest numbers of Black Crappie were sampled, with fish averaging an outstanding 8.5 inches in length. The longest Black Crappie sampled was an impressive 12 inches. Anglers can expect to catch high numbers of small Bluegill at Stella Lake, but extraordinary sized fish approaching 9 inches were also present. Panfish anglers seeking a meal will need to do some sorting if they are expecting a fish fry from Stella Lake. Other varieties of panfish sampled included Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.
Read the full DNR narrative
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Stella Lake has two AIS - Zebra mussel and Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Stella Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Stella Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Stella Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Stella Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Manuella Lake · 293 ac · 1.5 mi
- Washington Lake · 2,438 ac · 2.4 mi
- Erie Lake · 190 ac · 4 mi
- Round Lake · 266 ac · 4.2 mi
- Greenleaf Lake · 238 ac · 4.6 mi
- Willie Lake · 192 ac · 5.8 mi
- Minnie-Belle Lake · 597 ac · 5.8 mi
- Dunns Lake · 152 ac · 6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Stella Lake?
Stella Lake reaches 75 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 14 ft; about 38% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Stella Lake?
Stella Lake covers 599 acres with about 4.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Stella Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Stella Lake average 5.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Stella Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Stella Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Stella Lake have a public access?
Yes. Stella Lake has one public access site: Stella Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Stella Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2008.
When was Stella Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Stella Lake in 2025, the most recent of 19 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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