Blackside darter Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Rough fish like Blackside darter are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 13 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Blackside darter is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 13 Wisconsin lakes have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Blackside darter lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Blackside darter documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.