Minnesota · Cass County
Stony Lake Fishing guide
Stony Lake covers 563 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 50 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 22.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.1per gill net17"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2021Lengths measured · 25 fish
2018Lengths measured · 53 fish
2013Largemouth bassFair numbers21.1per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 93 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 81 fish
2021Lengths measured · 81 fish
2018Lengths measured · 90 fish
2013Smallmouth bassFair numbers11.2per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 33 fish
2021Lengths measured · 123 fish
2018Lengths measured · 58 fish
2013Northern pikeOne of the best around19.6per gill net18"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 359 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 220 fish
2023Lengths measured · 139 fish
2021Lengths measured · 87 fish
2018Lengths measured · 132 fish
2013BluegillJust a few10.9per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 270 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 143 fish
2023Lengths measured · 127 fish
2021Lengths measured · 110 fish
2018Lengths measured · 167 fish
2013CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 32 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 88 fish
2018Lengths measured · 37 fish
2013Yellow perchGood numbers5.4per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 98 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2023Lengths measured · 63 fish
2021Lengths measured · 19 fish
2018Lengths measured · 16 fish
2013Rock bassExcellent numbers2.9per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 151 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 65 fish
2023Lengths measured · 86 fish
2021Lengths measured · 100 fish
2018Lengths measured · 203 fish
2013Rates 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 Stony Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 22.8 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 50 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 22.8 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 50 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.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 38" | 28" | 15" |
| 2021 | 35" | 22" | 16" |
| 2018 | 35" | 22" | 18" |
| 2013 | 26" | 27" | 17" |
| 2008 | 31" | 26" | 18" |
| 2005 | 37" | 28" | 17" |
| 1999 | 36" | 29" | 17" |
| 1994 | 28" | 26" | 17" |
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:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 180,090 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,728 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,140 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,834 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,571 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Stony Lake is a 563-acre lake with 6.58 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 50 feet located east of Hackensack, MN. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned public access is located on the south shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Stony Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class are generally deep and very clear lakes. Other Lake class 23 lakes in the Walker Area include Mule, Man Horseshoe, and Long lakes. Stony Lake possesses a highly developed shoreline. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Smallmouth Bass and secondarily for Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch.
Walleye abundance failed to meet the long-range management for the third consecutive survey. Walleye lengths ranged from 12 to 28 inches with a mean length of 18 inches. Northern Pike are abundant, exceeding the maximum management goal the past 2 surveys. Sampled pike ranged in length from 9 to 38 inches with a mean length of 19 inches. Black Crappie abundance and size met long-range management goals, and lengths ranged from 5 to 12 inches with a mean length of 10 inches. Bluegill abundance was similar to recent surveys and lengths ranged from 3 to 10 inches. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 5 to 15 inches. Yellow Perch abundance has remained below management goals since 2005.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish sampled in Stony Lake included, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Stony Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Stony Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Stony 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
- Stony Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Stony Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Webb Lake · 226 ac · 2.7 mi
- Diamond Lake · 77 ac · 2.8 mi
- Birch Lake · 1,267 ac · 3.3 mi
- Webb Lake · 720 ac · 3.6 mi
- Long Lake · 59 ac · 3.7 mi
- Hovde Lake · 133 ac · 3.8 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 1,099 ac · 3.8 mi
- Ten Mile Lake · 5,080 ac · 3.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Stony Lake?
Stony Lake reaches 50 ft at its deepest point; about 32% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Stony Lake?
Stony Lake covers 563 acres with about 6.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Stony Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Stony Lake average 22.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Stony Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Stony Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Stony Lake have a public access?
Yes. Stony Lake has one public access site: Stony Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Stony Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 38"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Stony Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Stony Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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