Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Darling Fishing guide
Lake Darling is a 1,050-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 62 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 13.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.3per gill net13"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 33 fish
2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2021Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2020Lengths measured · 40 fish
2016Largemouth bassFair numbers44.5per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 114 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 112 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2020Lengths measured · 82 fish
2016Northern pikeOne of the best around20.5per gill net20"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 270 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 259 fish
2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 254 fish
2020Lengths measured · 140 fish
2016BluegillJust a few17.4per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 535 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 327 fish
2024Lengths measured · 208 fish
2021Lengths measured · 134 fish
2020Lengths measured · 577 fish
2016CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 17 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2021Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 25 fish
2016Rock bassGood numbers1.8per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 36 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 27 fish
2024Lengths measured · 9 fish
2021Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2020Lengths measured · 27 fish
2016Rates 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 Lake Darling through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 13.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 62 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 13.4 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. On a lake that drops to 62 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32" | 27" | 18" |
| 2021 | 27" | 25" | 16" |
| 2020 | 33" | 26" | 15" |
| 2016 | 30" | 26" | 18" |
| 2012 | 31" | 26" | 16" |
| 2008 | 35" | 29" | 18" |
| 2004 | 32" | 28" | 18" |
| 2000 | 30" | 27" | 17" |
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:
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
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,002 fingerlings · 3,444 yearlings · 53 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 11,545 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 9,837 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 12,362 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,927 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 15,188 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 18,214 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 12,828 fingerlings · 1,600 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 16,978 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 9,586 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Lake Darling is a 1,050-acre basin located on the northwest edge of the city of Alexandria and is part of the Alexandria Chain of Lakes. There is no public access on Lake Darling. However, boaters can gain access via a navigable channel from Lake Carlos. Additionally, Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center is located along the west shore. The lake is popular for both angling and other water-based recreation. Most of the shoreline is heavily developed with residential housing. Water quality and clarity are good with mid-summer water transparency reaching 20 feet in recent surveys. The lake supports an abundant and diverse aquatic plant community. Aquatic plants help maintain water quality and clarity by competing with algae for available nutrients in the lake. Aquatic plants also provide spawning habitat and cover for many fish species, especially bass and panfishes. Turtle Bay on the west end of the lake is posted as a no-wake zone to protect aquatic vegetation.
Largemouth Bass (79.0/hour ) are lower than past surveys, but still abundant. However, changes in sampling methods only allow a comparison to the 2016 survey (50.2/hour). Average and maximum length were 12.6 and 17.3 inches, respectively. Size structure appears to be improving, especially for bass 15 inches and greater.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike relative abundance (20.5/gill net) was the second highest on record, only slightly lower than the 2020 survey (21.2/gill net). Most pike were small, being below the protected slot. However, large pike were sampled, with the largest being 32.4 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small Northern Pike. New Northern Pike regulations were implemented in 2018 to increase size structure. Lake Darling is in the North-Central Zone, where all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep 10 pike, but not more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules, except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches, or two larger than 26 inches. For more information see: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pike/index.html.
Walleye abundance (2.3/gill net) is low, similar to past surveys. Of the few Walleye that were sampled, most were young, being dominated by the 2022 year class (56%). Mean length in gill nets was 15.0 inches, while the largest Walleye sampled was 27.2 inches. No Walleye were sampled from the 2012 to 2017 year classes, corresponding to peak water clarity as a result of zebra mussels. A recent decreasing trend in water clarity may benefit future stockings, although Walleye have never been abundant in Lake Darling. Fingerling stockings began in 2000 and have taken place on an annual basis since that time. Annual and mixed age stocking do not allow for evaluations of natural reproduction. Fingerling stockings do not appear to be contributing much to the fishery as evident by pre-fingerling stocking Walleye relative abundance exceeding that of post-stocking. However, even before fingerlings were stocked directly into Lake Darling, stocking was still taking place in the rest of the Alexandria Chain of Lakes and fish may have been moving between basins.
Bluegill relative abundance (19.0/trap net) was the lowest on record, but still moderately abundant. Most fish were young, leading to a small average size (4.9 inches). The largest Bluegill sampled being 8.9 inches. Few Black Crappie were sampled (0.1/trap net; 0.9/gill net), not atypical of mid-summer surveys. Yellow Perch continue to be sampled at very low numbers (0.2/gill net). Other species sampled include Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. A Muskellunge was also observed while electrofishing for Largemouth Bass. They are not stocked into Lake Darling.
Lake Darling was designated as an infested water after discovery of zebra mussels in 2009. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are easily moved from infested to non-infested waters and can negatively affect lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain water from their boat before leaving the access. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Darling fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Darling 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
- Public access: Access must be made through Lake Carlos
DNR bathymetry
Lake Darling depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Louise · 215 ac · 1.2 mi
- Lake Henry · 152 ac · 1.6 mi
- North Union Lake · 118 ac · 1.6 mi
- Lake Stony · 87 ac · 1.6 mi
- Lake Cowdrey · 243 ac · 1.6 mi
- Lottie Lake · 46 ac · 1.9 mi
- Lake Agnes · 138 ac · 2 mi
- Lake Brophy · 297 ac · 2.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Darling?
Lake Darling reaches 62 ft at its deepest point; about 53% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Darling?
Lake Darling covers 1,050 acres with about 6.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Darling?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Darling average 13.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Darling?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lake Darling stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Darling have a public access?
Yes. Lake Darling has one public access site: Public access (Access must be made through Lake Carlos).
How big do northern pike get in Lake Darling?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 32"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Lake Darling last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Darling in 2024, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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