Stump Lake. Question and Answers, History and Map.
I received an email back from a biologist of Region 3 and here are some of the answers I received back.
Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about Stump Lake and the access issues over the years. The conversation is about the access points and poorly maintained sites and boat launches. It sounds like the water levels were raised on Stump Lake over the years to lower the PH Levels? How does this affect the stocking program?
A: The increase in water levels observed in Stump Lake over the recent time frame has resulted in natural processes. No one has purposely raised the lake for any reason; there is no control structure on Stump Lake to do so.
pH has been an issue at Stump and it has been used as a pH tolerant brood lake in the past, but that exercise is no longer ongoing. We have returned to historical stocking rates as a result. Current stocking on Stump: 100,000 diploid Kokanee, 60,000 diploid Blackwater Rainbow Trout and 20,000 triploid Fraser Valley Rainbow Trout. There are no plans to alter this stocking regime at this time because the fishery is performing well.
Q: Do you have a history of Stump lake, so I can share it to my group? It sounds like people have broke their boat motors from hitting submerged concrete picnic tables? Maybe a makeover of the current sites could increase angler effort? I’ve been thinking about fishing Stump lake this summer, but I do not want to risk damaging my boat over it and I’m sure there are more people who do not fish Stump lake for this same reason.
A: Yes, I agree, the lake does have some access issues. We are trying to work with local land owners, our partners at Rec. Sites and Trails and other stakeholders to find a solution to provide better access to the fishery, but it’s going to take some time. For now we are fortunate that the private landowner is still allowing public access to the launch on the west side of the lake that you described. I have personally used it to launch an 18’ G3 with a 50 horse outboard and if you are careful (trim the motor up and/or paddle a short distance from shore), you should be able to avoid damaging your boat. But if that is still a risk you’re uncomfortable with, the alternative, for right now at least, would be to use the east launch where the unmaintained rec. site is located. I have used this launch site as well and while the road in can be bumpy and muddy (at times) the launch does not contain submerged picnic tables you have to safely navigate through.