Stump Lake in Barron County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Stump Lake sits in Barron County, out in Wisconsin. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. Surface area is around 126 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.6 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Start from Rice Lake, 2.2 miles down the road. For a city, Saint Paul is 78 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Stump Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Barron County records list brown trout, largemouth bass and northern pike among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Stump Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 9°F to 69°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Stump Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Rice Lake is 1.6 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Stump Lake for certain.