Blackwater Lake

How big is Blackwater Lake?

How deep is Blackwater Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Blackwater Lake?

What are the closest cities to Blackwater Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Blackwater Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Blackwater Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Blackwater Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Blackwater Lake?

Blackwater Lake is a 674 acre reservoir in the Mississippi River a few miles west of Grand Rapids, MN. The lake is mostly shallow with large beds of wild rice. Boswell Energy has a coal-fired electric plant on the north side that receives upstream water for cooling. This plant previously discharged heated water to an attached bay locally known as the "Hot Pond". This site was popular with anglers because warmwater fish would congregate in large numbers during cold weather months. Creel data was not collected, but anecdotal reports suggest that high angler harvest of sunfish regularly occurred. Warmwater discharge was discontinued in early 2019. The discontinuation of warmwater discharge is expected to result in less open water angling pressure, but creates additional ice fishing opportunities, so the overall impact on angling pressure is unknown.

Bluegill are one of the primary management species on Blackwater Lake. The management goal is to maintain a minimum of 25% of the Bluegill exceeding 8 inches. Spring panfish surveys are conducted to document and monitor size quality, age structure, and growth. The 2019 targeted survey was one of four spring surveys targeting Bluegill since 2009.

Spring trap netting in 2019 sampled Bluegill at a rate of 9.9/net resulting in a sample size of 248 Bluegill. The DNR panfish technical committee has defined exceptional size quality as having at least 10% of sampled Bluegill exceeding 8 inches with 9 inch or larger fish present. Previous surveys of Blackwater indicated exceptional size quality, despite perceived high angling pressure. Size structure remained exceptional in 2019. Thirty seven percent of the sample exceeded 8 inches. Sampled fish ranged from 2.8 to 10.1 inches and had a mean length of 7.4 inches. Scale analysis identified ages 2-9, with ages 4 to 7 well represented. Age 5 comprised 37% of the sample. Growth was similar to past surveys and relatively fast, exceeding the lake class averages. Bluegill averaged over 8 inches by age 7.

Pumpkinseed are another common sunfish but are less popular with anglers because they generally do not grow as large as Bluegill. Pumpkinseed were captured at a rate of 2.2 per trap net in 2019. Lengths ranged from 4.3 to 8.2 inches and averaged 6.7 inches.

The DNR panfish technical committee recommends using reduced bag limits to help maintain size quality on lakes with the biological potential for large sunfish and documented public support. Blackwater Lake was included in a proposal for a 5 sunfish bag limit in 2011, but there was insufficient public support to implement a regulation change at that time. Since then, public support for sunfish regulations has increased and Blackwater Lake is once again being considered for a reduced bag limit.

What is the average air temp for Blackwater Lake?

Are there any state parks near Blackwater Lake?