Little Stanchfield

Little Stanchfield Lake is a 138-acre lake in northeastern Isanti County located four miles north of Cambridge, MN, and is within the Rum River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet and an average depth of 4 feet. The lake is 100% littoral (15 feet or less). The color of the water is brown (bog stain) and green (nutrient loading), which results in water clarity of 3 to 4 feet. There are two inlets, one from Adam's Lake on the north shore and Lower Stanchfield Brook on the east side. There is one outlet on the south (Little Stanchfield Brook) that flows into the Rum River. The low water clarity limits aquatic plant growth. Curly-leaf pondweed, a non-native species, is present and grows in a thick band around the entire lake from 3 to 5 feet. The depth of water at which dissolved oxygen levels limit fish presence (<5 ppm) can include all depths during both summer and winter resulting in partial fish kills. Fish migration from the Rum River repopulates the lake. Substrates are primarily muck, silt, and sand. The lake is lightly developed with 4 homes. A small, shallow, gravel, public access is located on the south end of the lake off Highway 6 with parking for four rigs. South Stanchfield Lake offers good angling opportunities for numerous species. Northern Pike are high in number, the average length was 25 inches, and a 28-inch fish are consistently sampled. Black Crappies have relatively high catch rates and fish over 10 inches are consistently present. The Bluegill catch rates have increased each of the past five surveys, with fish over 8 inches sampled each of the past three surveys. Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rates were low, but fish over 17 inches were present. A high number of Northern Pike are consistently sampled with gill nets when compared with similar area lakes. The gill net catch was 11.3/net in 2024, which compares to the average of 11.6. Pike have had catch rates over 10/net during the past four surveys. The 44 pike sampled ranged from 20.0 to 32.7 inches and had a 25.2 inch average. Pike over 28 inches have been sampled in all surveys, while the largest pike sampled was a 34.3 inch fish in 2003. This population currently has an above average proportion of fish over 21 inches. The 2024 Black Crappie gillnet and trap net catches were high and low in 2024 when compared with past surveys. The gill net catch was 12/net in 2024 and compares to the average of 10/net, while the trap net catch was 5/net in 2024 and compares to the average of 19/net. Crappie ranged in length from 4.3 to 11.5 inches and had an average length of 9.8 inches. Crappies over ten inches have been sampled in all surveys, while crappies over 12 inches were sampled in 1993. The population currently has a high proportion of fish over eight and ten inches. The 2024 Bluegill trap net catch rate of 18/net was the second highest observed. Past surveys demonstrate an increasing trend in the Bluegill population; 1968 (0.4/net), 1993 (2/net), 2003 (8/net), 2013 (25/net), and 2024 (18/net). No Bluegills over 8 inches were sampled in the first two surveys, while the proportion of Bluegills over 8 inches has increased each of the past three surveys. In 2024, Bluegill ranged from 3.0 to 9.0 inches with a 7.3 inch average. The population currently has an above average proportion of fish over 6 and 8 inches. Electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was conducted in May of 2024 for the fourth consecutive survey. In 2024, bass were sampled at a rate of 25/hour, which is similar as the average of 23/hour. This catch rate is relatively low compared with similar area lakes. In 2024, bass ranged in length from 7.4 to 20.6 inches with a 15.4 inch average. Bass over 20 inches have been sampled in each of the past three surveys. Anglers can expect to catch low numbers of bass, with a chance at a fish over 20 inches. The population currently has above average proportions of fish over 12 and 15 inches. Yellow Perch gill net catch rates have remained low throughout all surveys, never exceeding 3/net. Catch rates in 2024 were 0.8/net, which compares to the average of 1.6/net. The four perch sampled in 2024 ranged from 6.7 to 7.5 inches. Perch over 10 inches have never been sampled. Although most perch are smaller than anglers prefer, they are an important prey source for most gamefish targeted by anglers. Other species sampled included Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

A survey of nearshore fish species was conducted on Little Stanchfield Lake on June 17, 2024 by Hinckley fisheries staff. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by electrofishing, and/or seining. Nearshore sampling captured 18 species of fish: Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, White Sucker, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Walleye, and Black Bullhead. The nearshore fish survey data is combined with gill net and trap net data from previous Little Stanchfield Lake surveys to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. The FIBI score for Little Stanchfield Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Little Stanchfield lake, located 3 miles west of Grandy in Isanti County, is managed for Northern Pike. Despite having a small public access and few lake homes, the lake receives high angling pressure year-round. Much of the open water angling is directed at Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Ice anglers typically target crappies and sunfish. Water levels fluctuate with the level of the Rum River which is an avenue for fish migration through Lower Stanchfield Creek. Little Stanchfield is grouped into lake class 39 with other small, shallow, turbid lakes. Anglers can expect to find numerous pike in Little Stanchfield. Northern Pike catch rates remain high and size is average when compared to similar lakes. Captured Northern Pike ranged from 13.8 to 34.6 inches. Some Walleye are present in Little Stanchfield, but catch rates remain low. With no natural reproduction, future Walleye abundance is dependent on fish migration in from Lower Stanchfield Creek. Spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was conducted, but high water hindered sampling efforts. However, several larger Bass up to 21 inches in length were still observed. There are also plenty of quality sized panfish to target in Little Stanchfield. Black Crappie abundance remains high and size is above average when compared to similar lakes. The largest Black Crappie collected was 11.3 inches and 87% of the Black Crappie observed were 8 inches or larger. Bluegill abundance is also high when compared to similar lakes. Bluegill up to 9.3 inches were observed and the average length was almost 7 inches. Panfish growth rates are above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes. An abundance of quality, harvestable sized panfish should allow for ample fishing opportunities. Yellow Perch abundance increased slightly, but remains low. White Sucker abundance decreased, but still remains greater than the 75th percentile for lake class 39, while Black Bullhead catch rates decreased drastically to very low levels.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Hybrid Sunfish in Little Stanchfield. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Little Stanchfield. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Little Stanchfield has a maximum depth of 12 feet and a mean depth of 3.8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Stanchfield is from 2024.

No invasive species are on record for Little Stanchfield in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.