Stella

Stella is a moderate-sized lake (599 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Stella has almost five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventy-five feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Stella is a class 27 lake and another similar waterbody in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area is Minnie-Belle Lake in Meeker County. Stella's 2021 lake management plan listed Walleye, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass as primary management species, while Black Crappie and Northern Pike were secondary species. Netting was completed in 2025 to monitor the fish population and evaluate the 2019 Walleye stocking regime (500 Spicer strain fry per littoral acre every other year). Moderate numbers of Walleye were gill netted in 2025, and size was respectable. Walleye averaged almost 17 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was 26 inches. Low numbers of both Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass were netted in 2025, but bass often sample better using electrofishing gear - sampling which was not done this year. Maximum length for Smallmouth Bass was an impressive 19 inches. The longest Largemouth Bass was 16 inches in length. Low to moderate numbers of Black Crappie were netted, but maximum length was an amazing 14 inches. Moderate numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging a noteworthy 24 inches in length. The longest pike netted was 31 inches. Northern Pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats, population abundances and size structures. Three management zones were established for Northern Pike, with their own bag limit and length limit restrictions. In the north-central zone, where Stella Lake is found, anglers can keep ten Northern Pike, but only two can be over 26 inches in length. All pike between 22 and 26 inches must be released immediately. This zone regulation is meant to increase Northern Pike size structure (more bigger fish) and to decrease the number of small fish - an attempt to restore balance to the population. The regulation will be evaluated on a state-wide basis after 2028. Additional fishes sampled in the 2025 nets included Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Stella Lake has two AIS Eurasian watermilfoil and Zebra mussel. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Stella is a moderate-sized lake (599 acres) located south of the City of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is available on the south shore. Stella has almost five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventy-five feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Stella is a class 27 lake and another similar waterbody in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area is Minnie-Belle Lake in Meeker County. Modest numbers of Black Crappie were sampled, with fish averaging an outstanding 8.5 inches in length. The longest Black Crappie sampled was an impressive 12 inches. Anglers can expect to catch high numbers of small Bluegill at Stella Lake, but extraordinary sized fish approaching 9 inches were also present. Panfish anglers seeking a meal will need to do some sorting if they are expecting a fish fry from Stella Lake. Other varieties of panfish sampled included Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Stella Lake has two AIS - Zebra mussel and Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Stella Lake was conducted on August 13th, 2024 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 10 stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 22 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Logperch, and Smallmouth Bass) and three that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted on August 13th, 2024 by IBI Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Bluegill comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number, while Common Carp, Northern Pike, and Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Bluegill sampled per net was below the 50% quartile for similar Lake Class 24 lakes. Additionally, the mean weight of Bluegill sampled per net was below the 25% quartile for Lake Class 24 lakes. The fish data collected in this nearshore and trap net survey was combined with data from an August 2023 gill net survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g. Iowa Darter, Logperch, and Smallmouth Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. An additional survey was completed on Stella Lake in July 2014 resulting in a higher FIBI score. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey provides supporting evidence that the fish community in Stella Lake is adversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Stella has a maximum depth of 75 feet and a mean depth of 14 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Stella is from 2025.

Yes — Stella has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.