Minnesota · St. Louis County
Black Duck Lake Fishing guide
Black Duck Lake sits in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and covers 1,250 acres, reaching 30 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 12.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers7.8per gill net15"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 73 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 73 fish
2022Lengths measured · 86 fish
2017Lengths measured · 100 fish
2012Lengths measured · 89 fish
2007Smallmouth bassOne of the best around233.4per hr (electrofishing)8"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 263 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 261 fish
2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 213 fish
2017Lengths measured · 265 fish
2012Northern pikeJust a few3.4per gill net25"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 31 fish
2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2017Lengths measured · 40 fish
2012Lengths measured · 72 fish
2007BluegillJust a few2.3per trap net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 110 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 110 fish
2022Lengths measured · 76 fish
2017Lengths measured · 116 fish
2012Lengths measured · 271 fish
2007CrappieJust a few1.7per trap net10"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 22 fish
2022Lengths measured · 8 fish
2017Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012Lengths measured · 111 fish
2007Yellow perchElite fishery56.7per gill net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 550 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 550 fish
2022Lengths measured · 294 fish
2017Lengths measured · 906 fish
2012Lengths measured · 515 fish
2007Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Black Duck Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 12.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | 19" | — |
| 2022 | 28" | 14" | 35" |
| 2017 | 27" | 18" | 38" |
| 2012 | 27" | 17" | 37" |
| 2007 | 27" | 18" | 36" |
| 2002 | 28" | 16" | 40" |
| 1998 | 26" | 17" | 32" |
| 1995 | 29" | 17" | 35" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Black Duck Lake is located approximately 10 miles north of the city of Orr. Black Duck is a productive class 5 lake with 1,250 surface acres and a maximum depth of 30 feet. Approximately 498 acres (40%) are less than 15 feet deep. Secchi depth during the 2022 survey was 10 feet, but the lake is prone to algae blooms that reduce clarity during the growing season. The outlet is the source of the Black Duck River, a tributary to the Ash River. There is a very diverse and healthy plant population, with both submergent and emergent vegetation. Boulder, rubble, gravel, and sand were the most common shoal water substrates. Excellent spawning habitat was reported for Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Bluegill. Centrarchids, Northern Pike, Walleye, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch represent the majority of a very diverse fish community.
Current fishing regulations on Black Duck Lake for Walleye follows the statewide regulation. Northern Pike are in the Northeast Zone regulation. Black Crappie fishing regulation follows the statewide regulation. There is a special regulation reduced bag limit on Sunfish, which is set at a 10 fish daily limit. Smallmouth Bass fishing regulation are in the Northeast Zone regulation.
Read the full DNR narrative
This targeted spring nighttime electrofishing for Smallmouth Bass was conducted in 2023, as part of the completion of the standard survey conducted in 2022. Reported net catches were from the 2022 survey.
Black Crappie trap-net catch rate was 1.7 fish per net, which was below average for similar lakes. Total length ranged from 3.9 to 13.9 inches and the mean length was 10.5 inches. Mean weight was 0.8 pounds, which was above average for similar lakes. A total of six year classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-8 years. Black Duck Lake offers a good fishing opportunity with quality Black Crappie in the system.
Bluegill trap-net catch rate was 2.3 fish per net which is well below average for similar lakes. Total length ranged from 3.8 to 9.4 inches and the mean length was 7.0 inches. Mean weight captured in trap nets was 0.4 pounds which was above average for similar lakes. A total of six year classes were present, and ages ranged from 1 - 7 years. Black Duck Lake offers a good fishing opportunity with quality Bluegill in the system.
Smallmouth Bass abundance was 233.4 fish per hour of On-Time, which was greater than the Black Duck Lake historic average of 231.3 fish per hour of On-Time. Total length ranged from 2.8 to 19.1 inches and the mean was 9.2 inches. Average weight was 0.3 pounds. Fourteen year classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-17 years. Black Duck Lake offers a good fishing opportunity with quality Smallmouth Bass in the system.
Northern Pike gill net catch rate was 3.4 fish per net, which is above the average for similar class lakes. Catch rate was above the management goal of 3.2 fish per net for Black Duck Lake. Total length ranged from 19.3 to 35.1 inches and the mean length was 26.4 inches. Mean weight of Northern Pike captured in gill nets was 4.7 pounds which is well above average for similar lakes. Historically, growth rates for Northern Pike in Black Duck Lake have been some of the highest in the International Falls management area, which was true again in 2022. A total of five year classes were present, and ages ranged from 1 - 7 years. Black Duck Lake offers good fishing opportunities for Northern Pike. With a lower density population there may not always be a fish on the line but there is a really good chances to catch Northern Pike in the mid-30" range.
Walleye gill net catch rate was 7.8 fish per net which is above average for similar lakes. Catch rate was above the management goal of 5.0 fish per net for Black Duck Lake. Total length ranged from 7.8 to 28.8 inches and mean length was 16.4 inches. Average weight was 1.8 pounds which is above average for similar class lakes. A total of 13 year classes were present, and ages ranged from 2-20 years. There are good numbers of Walleyes in Black Duck Lake, with the chance to catch Walleye over 26 inches. Black Duck Lake offers a good Walleye fishing opportunity.
Yellow Perch gill-net catch rate was 56.7 fish per net, which well above the average for similar lakes. Total length ranged from 2.7 to 12.9 inches and the mean length was 7.5 inches. Mean weight was 0.2 pounds, which is above average for similar lakes. Yellow Perch can offer an additional fishing opportunity but also offer great forage for Walleye and Northern Pike.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Black Duck Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Black Duck Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Blackduck Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Black Duck Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Elephant Lake · 728 ac · 3.4 mi
- Silver Lake · 129 ac · 3.7 mi
- Chub Lake · 126 ac · 3.9 mi
- Ash Lake · 690 ac · 5.5 mi
- Swan Lake · 86 ac · 6.4 mi
- Bell Lake · 110 ac · 7.8 mi
- Long Lake · 478 ac · 8.4 mi
- Moose Lake · 929 ac · 8.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Black Duck Lake?
Black Duck Lake reaches 30 ft at its deepest point; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Black Duck Lake?
Black Duck Lake covers 1,250 acres with about 12.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Black Duck Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Black Duck Lake average 12.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Black Duck Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Black Duck Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Black Duck Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Black Duck Lake have a public access?
Yes. Black Duck Lake has one public access site: Blackduck Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Black Duck Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Black Duck Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Black Duck Lake in 2023, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Black Duck Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Black Duck Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report