Black Duck Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Black Duck Lake falls in Saint Louis County, part of Minnesota. It stands 1,302 feet above sea level. Roughly 1,242 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. With 11 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It is among the larger waters listed here for Saint Louis County. International Falls sits 39 miles from the bank. Fort Frances is 39 miles and Mountain Iron 47 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Black Duck Lake

  The basin has been measured to about 35 feet. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Saint Louis County, recorded fish include yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Black Duck Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 5°F in January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Black Duck Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Elephant Lake, 3.6 miles out. Treat access at Black Duck Lake as something to verify.