Fishing Duck Lake

Duck Lake offers excellent northern pike fishing with fish ranging 17-40 inches and growth rates well above state average (growth index +3.9). Over 80% of pike are legal size, and natural reproduction is so strong that stocking was discontinued in 1997. The bluegill population has significantly improved from poor rankings in 1990 to average status by 1997, with 59% reaching acceptable size. Black crappie grow at state average with 75% reaching 7+ inches. Largemouth bass growth improved to state average, though only 14% reach the 14-inch legal size. The lake has four distinct basins with a maximum depth of 39 feet and abundant structure including aquatic plants, steep drop-offs, flats, points, and drowned timber. A thermocline forms from 15-22 feet, and dissolved oxygen drops to inadequate levels below 11 feet by mid-summer, concentrating gamefish in the upper water column. The heavily weeded shoal areas provide excellent habitat for forage species. Water quality declined between 1975 and 1990 with reduced oxygen penetration, and there's a history of spring fish kills. The 1992 year class was missing in several species, likely due to the cool, wet spring following the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Duck Lake compares favorably to other area warmwater fisheries like Baseline and Eagle lakes.