Minnesota · Beltrami County
Blackduck Lake Fishing guide
Blackduck Lake covers 2,711 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota, reaching 28 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024One of the best around13.5per gill net14"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 640 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 443 fish
2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 191 fish
2021Lengths measured · 285 fish
2018Northern pikeFair numbers8.4per gill net21"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 281 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 132 fish
2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 138 fish
2021Lengths measured · 112 fish
2018BluegillJust a few2per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 53 fish
2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2018CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net11"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2024Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2018Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchOne of the best around40.9per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1331 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 970 fish
2024Lengths measured · 32 fish
2024Lengths measured · 329 fish
2021Lengths measured · 491 fish
2018Rock bassGood numbers0.5per seine haul8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2021Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2018Rates 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 Blackduck Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27" | 31" | — |
| 2021 | 27" | 37" | — |
| 2018 | 27" | 31" | 18" |
| 2012 | 28" | 33" | 15" |
| 2006 | 28" | 32" | 21" |
| 2001 | 27" | 30" | — |
| 1996 | 25" | 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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,379,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,376,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,376,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,401,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,382,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Blackduck Lake on August 21st, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 106 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 80.2 (+/- 1.6) out of 100 possible. A score of 80.2 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Moderately High (80-84.9). However, developed sites generally had poor habitat quality. Approximately 33 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 63.1 (+/- 3.4) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Poor (50-65.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 88.6 (+/- 0.5) with High (85-91.9) habitat quality.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Blackduck Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Blackduck 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, Pine Tree Park (trailer launch)
- Blackduck Lake, West (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Blackduck Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Medicine Lake · 461 ac · 5.8 mi
- Gilstad Lake · 257 ac · 5.8 mi
- Gull Lake · 2,256 ac · 6.7 mi
- Benjamin Lake · 33 ac · 7.1 mi
- Rabideau Lake · 680 ac · 7.9 mi
- Sandy Lake · 261 ac · 8.6 mi
- North Twin Lake · 326 ac · 9.5 mi
- Webster Lake · 47 ac · 10 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Blackduck Lake?
Blackduck Lake reaches 28 ft at its deepest point; about 51% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Blackduck Lake?
Blackduck Lake covers 2,711 acres with about 13.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Blackduck Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Blackduck Lake average 6.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Blackduck Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Blackduck Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Blackduck Lake have a public access?
Yes. Blackduck Lake has 2 public access sites, including Blackduck Lake, Pine Tree Park (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Blackduck Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Blackduck Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Blackduck Lake in 2025, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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