Stocking

Stocking Lake is located two miles east of Menahga in northern Wadena County. Stocking Lake is a shallow lake and has a surface area of 357 acres and a maximum depth of 22 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the east shore of the lake. Stocking provides angling opportunities for Panfish, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Since 1975, the Stocking Lake Association has operated two aeration systems to help prevent oxygen depletion and winterkill. Winter anglers should be aware of these open water areas that are maintained during the winter months. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Stocking is in lake class 39. Class 39 lakes are characterized as being shallow and have a large littoral area (water depth less than 15 feet). Other class 39 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: First Crow Wing, Fourth Crow Wing, Portage, and Upper Twin. Panfish are a popular choice for anglers on Stocking Lake. Panfish populations in Stocking Lake have fluctuated from low to high numbers over the years. Black Crappies were found in very high numbers in 2021, with most fish ranging in size from 7.5 - 9.5 inches in length. Bluegill were sampled in moderate numbers, with fish up to 8.5 inches in length. Pumpkinseed were also sampled in moderate numbers. Anglers can expect to find an abundant Northern Pike population, with very few large pike. Northern Pike ranged from 12 - 28 inches in length and were spread evenly throughout this size range. Walleye numbers were low, and below all but one past survey. All sampled Walleye were 11-15 inches in length. Yellow Perch, an important forage species for walleye, were sampled in good numbers. Sampled Yellow Perch were small for anglers, with most fish 5.5 - 8 inches. Currently, no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Stocking Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boats before leaving the access.

Stocking Lake is located two miles east of Menahga in northern Wadena County. Stocking Lake is a shallow lake, and has a surface area of 357 acres and a maximum depth of 22 feet. Since 1975, Stocking Lake Association has operated three bubbler type aeration systems to help prevent oxygen depletion and winterkill. Open water areas are maintained during the winter months. There is a state-owned public access located on the east shore of the lake. Stocking provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Panfish, and Walleye. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Stocking is in lake class 39. Class 39 lakes are characterized by being shallow and have a large littoral area (water depth less than 15 feet). Other class 39 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: First Crow Wing, Fourth Crow Wing, Portage, and Upper Twin. Anglers can expect to find a moderate to abundant Northern Pike population, dominated by small, "hammer handle" pike in the 18-21 inch size range. The number of larger Northern Pike (>28.0 inches) has been low in recent surveys. Northern Pike up to 31.9 inches were sampled. Panfish are a popular choice for anglers year round on Stocking Lake. Panfish populations in Stocking Lake have fluctuated from low to high numbers over the years. Bluegill were sampled in moderate numbers for this lake class, while Pumpkinseed and Black Crappie were sampled in low numbers. Bluegill up to 9.4 inches and Black Crappie up to 12.9 inches were sampled. Walleye abundance (4.1 walleye/gillnet) was within the range for this lake class and similar to past surveys. Sampled Walleye had an average length and weight of 17.0 inches and 2.1 pounds, with fish measured up to 29.0 inches. Yellow Perch, an important forage species for walleye, were sampled in low numbers. Yellow Perch abundance in past surveys has fluctuated from low to high numbers. Sampled Yellow Perch were small, with few fish of an acceptable size for most anglers. Other species sampled included Bowfin, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, White Sucker, and Rock Bass. Currently, no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Stocking Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boats before leaving the access.

Stocking Lake is located two miles east of Menahga in northern Wadena County. Stocking Lake has a surface area of 357 acres and a maximum depth of 22 feet. Since 1975, the Stocking Lake Association has operated three bubbler type aeration systems to help prevent oxygen depletion and winterkill. Open water areas are maintained during the winter. There is a state-owned public access located on the east shore of the lake. Stocking provides angling opportunities for northern pike, panfish, and walleye. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Stocking is in lake class 39. Other area lakes in this same classification include: Hennepin, Paine, Peysensky, Upper Twin, Wolf, and Hungryman. Panfish are a popular choice for anglers year around on Stocking Lake. Bluegill and pumpkinseed abundance was down from recent surveys, below the range "typical" for this lake class. Bluegill and pumpkinseed numbers have been much higher in past surveys, with catch rates well above the range "typical" for this lake class. Anglers will find decent numbers of bluegill and pumpkinseed in the 7-8 inch size range. Black crappie were sampled in moderate numbers, with gillnet catch rates within the range "typical" for this lake class, similar to past surveys. Anglers will find good fishing for black crappie in the 10-12 inch size range. Northern pike abundance (6.2 pike/gillnet) was within the range "typical" for this lake class. Northern pike numbers were very high in the 2001 and 2006 surveys (> 20 pike/gillnet). Anglers will find lots of small, "hammer handle" size pike, as average length and weight was only 17.5 inches and 1.1 pounds. Larger northern pike are present, with pike measured up to 37.3 inches. Walleye abundance (2.1 walleye/gillnet) was within the range "typical" for this lake class, similar to past surveys. Walleye up to 27.7 inches were sampled. While natural reproduction occurs, the DNR stocking program is helping to maintain the walleye population in Stocking Lake. Evaluations showed the strongest year classes were from stocked years. Stocking Lake is stocked with walleye during odd numbered years. Yellow perch, an important forage species for walleye, were sampled in low numbers. Yellow perch abundance in past surveys has fluctuated from low to very high numbers. Sampled yellow perch were small, with few perch an acceptable size for angling. Present and past surveys have shown Stocking Lake to have a low to moderate largemouth bass population when compared to other area lakes. Stocking Lake has aquatic vegetation habitat that will support a largemouth bass population, however, numbers and sizes of bass will vary with partial winterkill events. Stocking Lake is one of the few lakes in this area that supports a carp population and provides limited opportunities for angling and bow fishing. Present and past surveys have shown Stocking to have a low to moderate carp population. Other species sampled included moderate numbers of bowfin (dogfish), and low numbers of white sucker, black bullhead, brown bullhead, and yellow bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Rock Bass, and Pumpkinseed in Stocking. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Stocking has a maximum depth of 22 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Stocking is from 2021.

Yes — Stocking has confirmed faucet snail. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.