Blackwater

Blackwater Lake is a 767-acre lake with 7.6 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 67 feet located southwest of Longville, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the northeast shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Blackwater Lake is in Lake Class 25; lakes in this class are characterized as Sunfish waters. Other area lakes in this class include Boy, Girl, Hand, Inguadona, Long, and Swift Lakes. Blackwater Lake possesses a highly developed shoreline. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye and secondarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Tullibee (Cisco), and Yellow Perch. An experimental catch and release regulation for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass implemented in 2004 was modified to a 14-20-inch protected slot limit with 1 over 20 in 2016. The regulation was removed in 2021. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Blackwater Lake provide angling opportunity for quality fish of both species. Largemouth Bass are most abundant and ranged in length from 5 to 18 inches. Smallmouth Bass are present in lower numbers and fish up to 20 inches long were sampled. Northern Pike are abundant in the lake, exceeding the maximum management goal. Sampled pike ranged from 11 to 36 inches long, averaging 22 inches. Walleye abundance in the lake is low despite fingerling stocking efforts. Walleye lengths ranged from 14 to 28 inches and averaged 20 inches long. Bluegill catch rates fell below the target management range, though exceeded size goals. Black Crappie up to 13 inches were sampled. Tullibee (Cisco) have been present in the catch since initial surveying and catch rates exceeded the management goal in 2023. Yellow Perch abundance has remained low across historical surveys. Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter in Blackwater Lake include, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Bowfin, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, Rusty Crayfish are the only aquatic invasive species (AIS) that have been identified in Blackwater Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species of Blackwater Lake (DOW # 11-0274; Lake Class 25) was conducted July 8, 2019 by Walker Area Fisheries Staff to aid in determining the Fish-based IBI (FIBI). Four-teen 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat conditions. Sites where habitat conditions did not allow for seining were backpack electrofished unless conditions proved difficult for walking. These sites were backpack shocked from the boat. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including eight species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Mimic Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass). The nearshore data was combined with data collected during a gill net and trap net survey conducted the week of July 15, 2018 to calculate a FIBI score for the lake. The FIBI Tool-2 was used for scoring and resulted in an FIBI score of 65, which was above both the impairment threshold (45) and the exceptional threshold (64) for this tool. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Blackwater Lake (DOW# 11-0274; lake class 25) is a 767-acre lake with 7.63 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 67 feet located South-west of Longville, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the North shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Blackwater Lake is in Lake Class 25; lakes in this class are generally deep, clear, and irregularly shaped. Other area lakes in this class include Birch, Boy, and Hand. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Secondary management species include Bluegill, Black Crappie, Tullibee (Cisco), and Yellow Perch. An experimental regulation for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass was modified in 2016 to a 14-20 inch protected slot limit with 1 over 20 inches in possession. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Blackwater Lake provide angling opportunities for quality fish of both species. Largemouth Bass are most abundant, and ranged in length from 8 to 17 inches with most fish measuring 14 inches or longer. Smallmouth Bass are present in lower numbers and fish up to 18 inches long were sampled. Northern Pike are abundant, with an average length of 21 inches and pike up to 32 inches were sampled; most fish are shorter than 24 inches. Walleye abundance was below the management goal of four fish per gillnet despite even-year fingerling stocking. The 2014 year class comprised the majority of the sample and averaged 18 inches long. Walleye ranged in length from 13 to 23 inches, with an average length of 18 inches. Bluegill and Black Crappie can also provide additional fishing opportunities to anglers, with quality-sized fish present for both species. Other fish species sampled include, Tullibee (Cisco), Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and White Sucker. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Mule Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Hybrid Sunfish in Blackwater. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Blackwater has a maximum depth of 67 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Blackwater is from 2023.

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