Stew Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Stew Lake in Lake County, Minnesota. The ground around here is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Lake County are larger. Nearest town is Grand Marais, 33 miles off. Ely is 40 miles and Silver Bay 46 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Stew Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Anyone new to Stew Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 4°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That shapes the year on Stew Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Grunt Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Stew Lake carry more weight than any list.