Minnesota · DNR survey data

Dark Lake

Dark Lake covers 120 acres in Koochiching County, running to 50 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2025. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
WalleyeStocked · 2025
Just a few
0.8per gill net
Typical
22"Biggest
Largemouth bass
Just a few
7.1per hr (electrofishing)
Typical
17"Biggest
Northern pike
Good numbers
14.5per gill net
20"Typical
28"Biggest
12"28"

Lengths measured · 66 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
11"15"20"25"30"32"

Lengths measured · 6 fish

2025
11"15"20"25"30"32"

Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 60 fish

2024
11"15"20"25"30"32"

Lengths measured · 51 fish

2019
11"15"20"25"30"32"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

2014
11"15"20"25"30"32"
Bluegill
Just a few
12.6per trap net
5"Typical
9"Biggest
2"9"

Lengths measured · 230 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
2"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 140 fish

2025
2"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 90 fish

2024
2"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 196 fish

2019
2"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 128 fish

2014
2"4"6"8"9"
Crappie
Just a few
6.5per trap net
6"Typical
12"Biggest
3"12"

Lengths measured · 130 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
3"4"6"8"10"12"

Lengths measured · 28 fish

2025
3"4"6"8"10"12"

Lengths measured · 102 fish

2024
3"4"6"8"10"12"

Lengths measured · 16 fish

2019
3"4"6"8"10"12"
Yellow perch
Good numbers
12per gill net
5"Typical
8"Biggest
4"8"

Lengths measured · 74 fish

Recent · 2024 + 2025
4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 14 fish

2025
4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 60 fish

2024
4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

2019
4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 5 fish

2014
4"6"8"

Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Rock bass
Just a few
0.2per trap net
Typical
11"Biggest

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

DNR stocking records

Stocking history

YearSpeciesStocked
2025Walleye70,000 fry · 1,628 fingerlings
2024Walleye1,050 fingerlings
2023Walleye2,170 fingerlings
2022Walleye2,340 fingerlings
2020Walleye4,200 fingerlings
2018Walleye3,780 fingerlings
2016Walleye3,486 fingerlings

Recent reports

Dark Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Dark 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.

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Koochiching County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Dark Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Dark Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Dark Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2025) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.

Does Dark Lake have a public access?

Yes. Dark Lake has one public access site: Dark Lake (trailer launch).

Is Dark Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.

When was Dark Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Dark Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .