Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Fish in Black Dog Lake?


Recommended Posts

I was told to repost this here from the metro board. Has anyone ever fished Black Dog Lake? It looks like a huge shallow water basin that takes up the entire area between I-35 and Rte. 77 just south of the Minnesota River. Is there access by boat to it? Does it connect up with the MN River somewhere? Is there any fish in it? It looks like it might be a good spawning area for pike in the spring. I drive by this lake all the time and I am curious...

-Gregg B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just look at the post: "Report: Black Dog" by Ouchless. It is at the bottom of this page or the top of the next one. Lots of good info about Black Dog.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Just look at the post: "Report: Black Dog" by Ouchless. It is at the bottom of this page or the top of the next one. Lots of good info about Black Dog.


That thread is about that section of the minnesota river...not black dog lake itself. I personally havent heard of anyone try fishing out of Black dog lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what I thought... they are talking about the river only in that thread. My interest was in Black Dog Lake. I have a feeling there is not much more than Carp in there, especially if it is not connected to the river itself.

-Gregg B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would give this thread a little time. More people will chime in and have info. Not alot of people are in this area this time of year. It takes awhile for some to check back.

I do not think Black dog resivour is totaly cut off from the river. For one, spring time floods spill fish over in it. Another is I do believe their is one culvert that flows right into and out of the lake. The one by the eagles nest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like said before, the lake is used to cool or hold the water from the power plant before dumping back in.

I don't doubt that there are fish in there, but IMO not enough to waste my time when I can find fish other places.

Not only that, but I think I remember someone mentioning that it is private land back there which would make this discussion null and void.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

I think I remember someone mentioning that it is private land back there which would make this discussion null and void.


Way to be an optimist...you pessimist wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Either DTRO is correct or we are treading on a secret spot. grin.gif

DTRO, do you know what culvert I am talking about?

Plus I thought it was a wildlife area? I could be wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry, scratch that! I was thinking of gun lake on the culvert.

Black Dog lake is located in Minn. Valley Nattional Wildlife Ref... I would think it would be public. Now to be able to bring a boat out on it or a boat and a motor would be a good question.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would say one would have a real hard time getting a boat in there, even in high water.

As far the secret spot theory, I'm there with you guys every time I drive over the bridge and wonder about fish in there.

I still think it might be restricted for some reason....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, it seems that not many people have tried to fish on this lake. It may be a designated waterfowl refugee, in which I believe fishing would not be permitted. I do have a hard time believing it is some sort of secret fish-haven. Just it's size and location to I-35 and Cedar kind of negates any secrecy. I may have to try to look for some access for a small boat to drag in there. Then, perhaps, I may try to fish it next spring. Thanks for all your replies...

-Gregg B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to fish it when I was a kid. U are right it's a shallow water basin. One summer, way back when, maybe 10 years ago, it was really low. You could walk out probably a hundred yards or better without any drop really and couldn't see any significant structure. I've caught small channel cats, drum, carp, etc. Did see a really nice cat come out of it one time, but like was mentioned, I'd put time in other places before this lake.

There are two water intake/outake deals for the power plant connected to the river. One by 35W and one by 77. Can't get through these with a boat.

There isn't a launch. Not sure if public access if kosher, but people do fish it quite a bit from shore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its not restricted area. There just no easy access.

Years ago I thought that it might be a pretty good place to fish. I've tried it with no success.

The intake, is at the power plant and is for cooling purposes. Then is dumped back into the lake to cool. The lakes looks to be divided, There are two discharges one close to 35E and on just west of 77.

The river needs to be significantly past flood stage to overflow Blackdog road. (which is 702Ft) There is a possibility that bait fish might get into and maybe some larger fish, but the water temps probably are to warm in parts of the season. The water usually stays open during winter on the lake.

I would say if your up for it fish it. You might be able to get a canoe in by one of the discharges. There is no boat access, and parts of the the land surrounding is private property and fenced accordingly. (Dtro you better stick to Jordan tongue.gif )

Good luck

LFC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Its not restricted area. There just no easy access.

Years ago I thought that it might be a pretty good place to fish. I've tried it with no success.

The intake, is at the power plant and is for cooling purposes. Then is dumped back into the lake to cool. The lakes looks to be divided, There are two discharges one close to 35E and on just west of 77.

The river needs to be significantly past flood stage to overflow Blackdog road. (which is 702Ft) There is a possibility that bait fish might get into and maybe some larger fish, but the water temps probably are to warm in parts of the season. The water usually stays open during winter on the lake.

I would say if your up for it fish it. You might be able to get a canoe in by one of the discharges. There is no boat access, and parts of the the land surrounding is private property and fenced accordingly. (Dtro you better stick to Jordan
tongue.gif
)

Good luck

LFC


I knew you would chime in sooner or later. Thanks for the info.

cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The lake is part of the Minn Valley National Wildlife Refuge. And is protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/blackdog.html

I called them this spring to see if I could bring a canoe out on Long Meadow Lake (opposite side of the river but same preserve). They told me that boats of any type were prohibited.

Here is another link regarding fishing

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/fishing.html

Looks like it's allowed unless posted otherwise.

Hope that helps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I have fished it a few times and have seen other folks do the same. I have not caught anything to write home about, but the normal expected carp and small cats. I see lots of signs that people fish there though...trash, fish line, bottles etc, all the stuff that people to lazy to walk to the PROVIDED trash cans leave on the shore.

I plan on getting a kayak back there this year just to satisfy the curiosity. I can't come up with any info on depth or if there are any holes, but you'll never know untill you try.. I just hope I don't get a ticket or worse. Untill I read the post I thought I would have no problems. maybee I'll have to have an in person conversation with a C.O. before I try it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

About two years ago, When the road was flooded over, I was running my dog through that area and there were some big Northerns in the shallows among the cattails and trees making a ruckus, you could see their fins and tails out of the water. I'm pretty sure the sign there says shore fishing only, but I could be wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

i have fished there once of twice but with no luck. but i was watching others down there casting twister tails and they were catchig white bass.but other wise ive just seen carp down their.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      Looks to me like Leech brought his chair home!!😅😆
    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.