 Blackduck Lake is a 2596-acre lake with a maximum
depth of 28 feet. The lake is 2 miles west of the city of Blackduck in central Beltrami County. There is a public access on
the east side of the lake off of County Road 30. The Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes
into 43 different lake classes based on physical and chemical
characteristics. Blackduck Lake is in lake class 27. Typically
lakes in this class are large, deep with hardwater and regular
shorelines. Other area lakes in the same lake class include Big,
Clearwater, Big Wolf, Big Turtle, Andrusia, Grace and Kitchi. The
lake is managed for walleye, northern pike and yellow perch.
Blackduck Lake is a popular lake in the Blackduck area that
provides good angling for walleye, northern pike and yellow perch.
Fishing pressure can be high both in the summer and winter. Winter
fish house counts indicates that Blackduck Lake is second only to
Lake Bemidji in popularity for winter fishing in the Bemidji area.
 Walleye abundance in 2001 was the highest ever recorded and was
well above what you would find in other lake class 27 lakes.
Walleye ranged in length from 7.0 to 27.2 inches with a mean
length and weight of 12 inches and 0.7 pound. Over 70% of the
walleye sampled were from the 1999 year class (two years old).
These young walleye will provide anglers with good walleye fishing
in the future. The DNR stocks walleye two out of every three
years.
Northern pike abundance in 2001 was typical of past surveys and
of other lakes in the same lake class. Only four year classes
(ages 2 to 5) were sampled. Northern pike ranged in length from 17
to 30 inches with an average length and weight of 21 inches and 2
pounds. There has been a downward trend in quality especially
northern pike over 28 inches.
 Yellow perch are abundant in Blackduck Lake and provide quality
fish for angling and food for predator fish. Yellow perch from the
gillnet sample ranged in length from 5.0 to 11.4 inches with 26%
of the fish over nine inches. In 1991 the mean length was 9.2
inches with 72% of the fish over nine inches.
In 2001 pumpkinseed sunfish was the most abundant member of the
sunfish family in Blackduck Lake followed by rock bass. Few
bluegill have been sampled in any assessment.
A unique fish found in Blackduck Lake is the freshwater drum.
Not many lakes in northern Minnesota have this species. Drum is
quite abundant in the lake and could provide some excellent
angling. The average size drum sampled was over six pounds.
Brown bullhead is the most abundant member of the bullhead
family in Blackduck Lake. Seventy-one percent of the fish were
over 12 inches long.
Black crappie and largemouth bass were not sampled in 2001 but
have been sampled in previous assessments.
Other fish sampled include lake whitefish, white sucker, black
bullhead, burbot (eelpout) and common shiner.
 Riparian development in the form of new lake homes continues to
occur on Blackduck Lake. Shoreline development can negatively
affect water quality and can impact aquatic habitat necessary for
fish at various life stages. Lakeshore that is not currently
developed is some of the most sensitive and important shoreline
for maintaining water quality and fish habitat. These shorelines
and shallow water areas with their aquatic plants, help protect
the lake from erosion and absorb nutrients and pollutants as well
as provide excellent places for wildlife and fish to feed, hide,
and raise their young. Protection of the larger watershed that
drains into Blackduck Lake is also needed to maintain water
quality. Based on the increasing value of lakeshore in this area,
there will be much demand to develop the remaining lakeshore on
Blackduck Lake. More specific information on protecting or
restoring shorelines and watersheds is available through DNR
Fisheries offices.
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