Medicine

Minnesota DNR LBMA staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Medicine Lake on August 25th, 2025, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There was a total of 140.85 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 70.28 acres of emergent dominated plant communities and 70.57 acres of floating leaf plant communities. The following taxa were noted during the survey: bulrush (round-stem group) (Schoenoplectus spp.), burreed Emergent Group (Sparganium spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), common reedgrass (Phragmites australis), floating pondweed (Potamogeton natans), sedge (Carex spp.), spikerush (Eleocharis spp.), water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile), white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), wild rice (Zizania palustris), and yellow waterlily (Nuphar variegata). Minnesota DNR LBMA staff also conducted an assessment of lakeshore development on Medicine Lake on 8/25/2026, following the Shoreline Development Census survey protocol. The boat-based Shoreline Census survey assesses sections of the shoreline and classifies them as either 'Natural' or 'Altered', with added generic habitat type descriptions (Vegetated, Beach, Rock, Riprap, Mowed). A total of 4.33 miles of shoreline was assessed with 3.2% (0.14 mi) being noted as 'Altered' and 97% (4.19 mi) noted as 'Natural'. The most common 'Altered' class of shoreline was ‘Mowed to Edge' accounting for 3% (0.13 mi) of the total shoreline.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Medicine Lake was conducted on September 3-4, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample five stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations and site conditions (i.e., dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrate) prevented the use of a seine at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, and Iowa Darter) and no tolerant species. A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program Staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eight species of fish. Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2023 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Medicine Lake may be adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score near the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Upper/Lower Red Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Medicine Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Medicine Lake is a 461-acre lake with a maximum depth of 44 feet located 8 miles west of the city of Blackduck in Beltrami County. There is a public access on the northeast shore of the lake with a gravel ramp and parking for about 10 trucks/trailers. Medicine Lake is managed for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. A special regulation for Northern Pike consisting of a 3 fish bag limit and protected length limit from 24 to 36 inches with one fish allowed over 36 inches is in effect. There is also a reduced bag limit of 5 sunfish per day. Medicine Lake is stocked with Walleye fingerlings every other year. The 2023 Walleye gill net catch rate of 1.8 fish per net was below the range found in previous surveys. Walleyes captured had a good size average of 15.7 inches and 1.3 lbs./fish with Walleyes just short of 20 inches measured in this survey. The Northern Pike population is one of lower density and higher quality compared to most lakes of this size in the North-central Management Zone. The special regulation on pike has been effective in producing a higher ratio of preferred sized fish. The gill net catch rate of 3.8 fish per net was lower than the previous survey but pike averaged 22.4 inches in length and the largest exceeded 32 inches. Bluegill and Black Crappie catch rates from standard surveys have always been low on Medicine Lake, although good fishing for both species can be found there. Bluegill up to 9.1 inches and Black Crappie up to 11.4 inches in length were captured in the 2023 survey. Other species of fish captured in the 2023 survey were Bullhead species, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker and Yellow Perch.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch in Medicine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Medicine. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Medicine has a maximum depth of 44 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Medicine is from 2024.

No invasive species are on record for Medicine in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.