Lake Darling
Douglas County, Minnesota
(1)Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be fairly active with peak fishing times around 8-9 AM and 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Darling, MN
- How big is Lake Darling?
- How deep is Lake Darling?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Darling?
- What are the closest cities to Lake Darling?
- Are there places to stay in the Lake Darling area?
- Are there bait or tackle shops near Lake Darling?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Lake Darling?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Darling?
- What is the average air temp for Lake Darling?
- Are there any state parks near Lake Darling?
How big is Lake Darling?
How deep is Lake Darling?
What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Darling?
Other fish species in the lake include Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Silverside, Cisco (Tullibee), Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Logperch, Mimic Shiner, Shorthead Redhorse, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Lake Darling?
Are there places to stay in the Lake Darling area?
More Lodging Options
Are there bait or tackle shops near Lake Darling?
Are there topographical lake maps available Lake Darling?
Lake Darling area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Darling?
Explore the Lake Darling area in a RV
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What aquatic invasive species are found in Lake Darling?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Darling Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 19-22 July 2021. Fourteen sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sites with one site sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample eleven sites, a 15-foot seine was used at two sites, and soft sediments with abundant vegetation and deep water prevented the use of seines at one sampling site. Nearshore sampling captured 30 native species of fish including eight species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and three species (Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish) that are tolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted on 19-22 July 2021 by IBI Program Staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline that encompassed multiple habitat types. Bluegill and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and Common Carp, Bluegill and Northern Pike comprised a majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Bluegill sampled per net was very near the 50% quartile for similar Lake Class 27 lakes and the average length was 6.5 inches, with 23% over 7 inches.
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2020 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, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). 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.
Data from this survey indicates Darling Lake is in good health as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Long Prairie River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Lake Darling?
Are there any state parks near Lake Darling?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Lake Darling Reviews
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Lake Darling...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Lake Alvin | 0.7 mi | 1,156 | |
| Lake Louise | 1.3 mi | 214 | 33 ft |
| Lake Henry | 1.5 mi | 152 | 32 ft |
| North Union Lake | 1.6 mi | 113 | 42 ft |
| Lake Stony | 1.7 mi | 87 | 58 ft |
| Cowdry Lake | 1.7 mi | 243 | 52 ft |
| Lake Charley | 1.7 mi | 131 | |
| Lottie Lake | 2.0 mi | 46 | 31 ft |
| Lake Agnes | 2.0 mi | 137 | 31 ft |
| Lake Le Homme Dieu | 2.2 mi | 1,801 | 85 ft |
