Black Lake, often referred to as "Nature's Fish Hatchery", is the largest and most diverse of the many Indian River lakes. Over 60 miles of shoreline combined with numerous islands, offers the angler all kinds of ideal fish habitats from rocky points and shoals, to sandbars, weed beds, shallows, and deep water up to 40 feet. Ever changing winds thoroughly mix the water to provide highly dissolved oxygen content which support all of the lakes life forms at peak levels. When coupled with an abundant food supply and the fact that Black Lake is relatively shallow and warm, conditions are right for an almost super-normal development of warm water game and panfish. Large bays, which support dense weed growths, provide subsequent shelter for the annual hatch of growing fish fry. Black Lake is completely void of industry. This explains the unpolluted water that provides the angler with an incredible fishery that the lake is and will continue to be. Black Lake has NO fish consumption advisories as found in so many other waterways.
The lakes most dominant game fish are the smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and once again walleye.
There is an ample supply of first rate facilities on Black Lake catering to the anglers every need. Excellent family run motels, campgrounds and cabin/cottage complexes, with all the modern conveniences, are located along the lake shore. You will find them to be very reasonably priced and many of them are listed on the accommodations page of this site. Most of them offer boat and/or motor rentals. They are equipped with fish cleaning facilities and offer freezer space for the preservation of your cleaned catch. A free state maintained boat launching site and several public and private launches provide access for the fisherman or woman. There are a number of public areas available for fishing from the shore.
