Dark

Koochiching County, Minnesota — DOW #36001400

124 Surveys

119.61

Acres

50 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Dark. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	14.5 (above normal)	3.5 – 8.9	2.00 lb	58
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	2.34 lb	2
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	4.8 (normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.56 lb	19
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	2.25 lb	5
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	0.5	—	—	5
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	1.3	—	—	8
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	1.73 lb	7
2009-06-22	Standard gill nets	14.8 (above normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.52 lb	59
2009-06-22	Standard trap nets	1.4	—	1.03 lb	13
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	10.5 (above normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.55 lb	42
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	0.9	—	1.13 lb	8
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	4.7 (normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.04 lb	28
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	5.87 lb	3
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	15.0 (above normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.74 lb	60
1991-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.9	—	2.28 lb	9
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	10.3 (above normal)	3.5 – 8.9	1.96 lb	41
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	1.7	—	0.88 lb	17

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	3.5 (normal)	1.0 – 3.9	0.17 lb	14
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	9.9 (above normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.20 lb	89
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	1.8 (normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.27 lb	16
2024-08-05	Backpack electrofishing	1.5	—	—	2
2024-08-05	50-ft beach seine	10.8	—	—	43
2024-08-05	15-ft beach seine	0.8	—	—	3

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	9.7 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.23 lb	87
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.10 lb	3
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	13.8 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.44 lb	124
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	1.0	—	0.62 lb	4
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	18.2	—	—	182
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	42.0	—	—	252
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	11.8 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.35 lb	118
2009-06-22	Standard trap nets	20.4 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.19 lb	184
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	21.7 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.28 lb	195
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.12 lb	1
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	19.1 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.52 lb	153
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	1.5	—	0.71 lb	9
1991-06-19	Standard trap nets	27.9 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.15 lb	279
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	3.8	—	0.20 lb	15
2024-08-05	50-ft beach seine	8.3	—	—	33
2024-08-05	15-ft beach seine	6.8	—	—	27
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	8.2 (below normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.34 lb	82
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	1.00 lb	1

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	1.3 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.14 lb	12
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	12.0 (above normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.09 lb	48
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.10 lb	5
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	19.5	—	—	195
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	0.8	—	—	5
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.15 lb	2
2009-06-22	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.08 lb	3
2009-06-22	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.12 lb	5
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.11 lb	3
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	5.3 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.09 lb	21
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.23 lb	6
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	5.5 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.12 lb	33
1991-06-19	Standard trap nets	2.2 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.15 lb	22
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	2.3 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.17 lb	9
2024-08-05	Backpack electrofishing	0.8	—	—	1
2024-08-05	50-ft beach seine	1.3	—	—	5
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	3.3 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.25 lb	33
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.25 lb	6

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.4	0.94 lb	1
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.6	3.45 lb	1
2014-06-04	Standard electrofishing	1.5	—	2.05 lb	2
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	21.6	—	—	216
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	21.2	—	—	127
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.4	1.90 lb	1
2024-08-05	Backpack electrofishing	3.0	—	—	4
2024-08-05	50-ft beach seine	2.0	—	—	8
2024-08-05	15-ft beach seine	3.3	—	—	13
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.3 – 1.4	0.40 lb	6
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.6	1.60 lb	1

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.7	2.39 lb	2

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	3.26 lb	3
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 0.5	3.06 lb	3
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	2.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.92 lb	11
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.6 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	1.50 lb	5
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	0.6 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	2.40 lb	6
2009-06-22	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.37 lb	8
2009-06-22	Standard trap nets	0.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	3.73 lb	7
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.42 lb	4
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	0.7 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	2.75 lb	6
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.70 lb	1
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	2.68 lb	6
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	1.8 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.44 lb	7
1991-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 0.5	3.36 lb	5
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.08 lb	6
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.6 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.5	1.50 lb	6

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	1.6 (normal)	0.3 – 1.6	0.78 lb	14
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	1.8	—	—	18
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	—	6
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	10.3 (above normal)	0.4 – 3.1	0.49 lb	41
1991-06-19	Standard trap nets	5.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.6	0.48 lb	58
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	1.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.6	0.14 lb	13

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	3.98 lb	1
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	2.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.28 lb	11
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.9 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	3.01 lb	8
2010-07-29	1/4-in trap nets	0.2	—	—	2
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	2.4 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.9	3.26 lb	24
2009-06-22	Standard gill nets	4.3 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.33 lb	17
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.39 lb	6
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	4.56 lb	1
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.90 lb	1
1991-06-19	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	1.50 lb	3
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.33 lb	4
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	3.20 lb	1

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2024-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (normal)	0.1 – 0.5	0.09 lb	1
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.1 (normal)	0.1 – 0.5	0.05 lb	1
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	22.5	—	—	135
2024-08-05	50-ft beach seine	3.0	—	—	12
2024-08-05	15-ft beach seine	0.8	—	—	3

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2014-06-04	Standard gill nets	6.8 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.5	0.67 lb	27
2014-06-04	Standard trap nets	3.3 (above normal)	0.6 – 2.6	0.68 lb	30
1986-05-08	Standard trap nets	7.9 (above normal)	0.6 – 2.6	0.59 lb	79
2009-06-22	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.4 – 2.5	0.60 lb	6
2009-06-22	Standard trap nets	4.9 (above normal)	0.6 – 2.6	0.59 lb	44
1987-06-10	Standard gill nets	13.8 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.5	0.61 lb	83
1987-06-10	Standard trap nets	11.9 (above normal)	0.6 – 2.6	0.55 lb	95
2024-08-05	Backpack electrofishing	0.8	—	—	1
1988-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.4 – 2.5	1.27 lb	4
1988-06-07	Standard trap nets	4.6 (above normal)	0.6 – 2.6	0.90 lb	46

Iowa Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-07-29	15-ft beach seine	1.3	—	8

Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2019-06-17	Standard trap nets	1.3	—	0.86 lb	12
2019-06-17	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.90 lb	2

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2024-08-05	15-ft beach seine	0.3	—	1
2024-08-05	Backpack electrofishing	54.6	—	72

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Border Mini Units

International Falls, MN

★ 4.5

Rainy Lake Marine

International Falls, MN

(218) 286-5511

★ 5

Rainy Lake Visitor Center

International Falls, MN

(218) 286-5258

★ 4.7

Rainy Lake Visitor Center Public Boat Access

International Falls, MN

★ 4.5

Seegert's Marine

International Falls, MN

(218) 286-3535

★ 4.6

Spring Lodge Resort and Marina

International Falls, MN

Resorts & Lodges Near Dark

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Dark.

Island Lake Resort

Fishing Resort Northome

(218) 897-5245

Camp Idlewood Resort

Fishing Resort International Falls

(218) 286-5551

Rainy Lake Inn & Suites

Fishing Resort Ranier

(218) 286-5699

Bear Ridge Guest House Suites and Lake House

Fishing Resort International Falls

(218) 340-4274

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Dark. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Bullhead Black Crappie Bluegill Brown Bullhead Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Rock Bass Walleye White Sucker Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Dark

JPEP Guiding

Fishing Guide

(903) 521-2200

Northern Water Excursions LLC

Fishing Guide

(218) 324-1776

Rainy Lake Guiding

Fishing Guide

(763) 238-7507

Rainy Lake Houseboats

Fishing Guide

(800) 554-9188

Voyageurs National Park Tour

Fishing Guide

(763) 238-7507

Other Lakes in Koochiching County

Plan Your Trip to Dark

Weather forecast for Dark — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.9562°N, 94.0945°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Dark

DNR Fish Surveys

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Bluegill

Yellow Perch

Largemouth Bass

Rock Bass

Walleye

Black Bullhead

White Sucker

Golden Shiner

Brown Bullhead

Iowa Darter

Bullhead

CNM

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Badiuk Equipment Inc

Border Bob's

Border Country Outfitters

Howard's East

Kuttes State Water Access

Lucky Seven General Store

Outdoorsman's Headquarters

Rainy Lake Aquatics LLC

Nearby Marinas

Border Mini Units

Rainy Lake Marine

Rainy Lake Visitor Center

Rainy Lake Visitor Center Public Boat Access

Seegert's Marine

Spring Lodge Resort and Marina

Resorts & Lodges Near Dark

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Dark

Other Lakes in Koochiching County

Bartlett

Battle

Cameron

Clear

Moose

Rat Root

Plan Your Trip to Dark