Lake Darling fishing: Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye

Target species: Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Black Bullhead, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker

The lake

Lake Darling covers 1,053 acres in Minnesota, across Douglas County. It is a lake: 90.2% of it is 42 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 60 feet (18.3 m). Our records hold 18 species for this water.

Depth and bottom

Deepest measured point: at least 60 ft (18.3 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 90.2% of the water is 42 feet or shallower. We hold 111 depth contour lines for this water.

  • 0–3 ft: 28.4% of the water
  • 3–6 ft: 7.8% of the water
  • 6–9 ft: 5.6% of the water
  • 9–12 ft: 4.6% of the water
  • 12–15 ft: 4.2% of the water
  • 15–18 ft: 3.9% of the water
  • 18–21 ft: 4.2% of the water
  • 21–24 ft: 4.6% of the water
  • 24–27 ft: 4.5% of the water
  • 27–30 ft: 5% of the water
  • 30–33 ft: 5% of the water
  • 33–36 ft: 4% of the water
  • 36–39 ft: 4.1% of the water
  • 39–42 ft: 4.3% of the water
  • 42–45 ft: 2.4% of the water
  • 45–48 ft: 2.2% of the water
  • 48–51 ft: 2.2% of the water
  • 51–54 ft: 2% of the water
  • 54–57 ft: 1.1% of the water

7 target fish, led by Largemouth Bass

  • Largemouth Bass — Feeding water: 65–85°F.
  • Northern Pike — Feeding water: 50–75°F.
  • Walleye — Feeding water: 50–75°F.
  • Smallmouth Bass — Feeding water: 60–75°F.
  • Black Bullhead — Feeding water: 70–80°F.
  • Shorthead Redhorse — Feeding water: 60–75°F.
  • White Sucker — Feeding water: 50–70°F.

Also recorded here: Black Crappie, Bluegill, Cisco, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp.

Water and conditions

Our water temperature readings average 70°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. pH averages 8.6. These readings span 2017–2025.

Where this data comes from

  • Minnesota DNR — Minnesota DNR: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • Minnesota DNR — Minnesota DNR: reported depths: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.
  • EPA NLA — EPA National Lakes Assessment: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.
  • Webster, K.E., McCullough, I.M., Soranno, P.A. LAGOS-US DEPTH v1.0, EDI, doi:10.6073/pasta/64ddc4d04661d9aef4bd702dc5d8984f (CC BY 4.0); Cheruvelil et al. LAGOS-US LOCUS v1.0 (EDI) — LAGOS-US DEPTH v1.0: Lake depth for 17,675 lakes in the conterminous U.S.: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.