Fishing at Stony Lake, Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Stony Lake in Cass County, Minnesota. It stands 1,371 feet above sea level. The water covers around 558 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. You are looking at roughly 5.7 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Cass County list it sits near the top for size. Pequot Lakes lies 27 miles from the water. Then Park Rapids, 27 miles, and Crosslake, 28 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Stony Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Stony Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 6°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Stony Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try High Bank Lake, 0.9 miles away. Rules at Stony Lake are worth checking on the day.