Deer Lake
Size
4,034ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Deer Lake
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Bluegill
Bluegill
Rock bass
Rock bass
Walleye
Walleye
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
Northern pike
Northern pike
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Tiger muskellunge
Tiger muskellunge

Overview

Plenty of midlake structure leads to great walleye and muskie action. Don't pass up the smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Deer Lake Map

Forage

Moose: Perch, panfish, white sucker, darter, shiner and cisco (tullibee) are common. Perch are the primary forage for larger predators. Deer: Perch, Cisco (Tullibee), Darters, Redhorse, Sucker, Panfish.

Seasonal Movements

Moose: This is a minor movement of walleye and muskie between Moose and Little Moose Lakes.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
22.9286
0Statewide Range74.0278

Deer Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Crappie
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.2857
0Statewide Range10.4166

Deer Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Largemouth bass
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
37
0Statewide Range166.4366

Deer Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Muskellunge
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0667
0Statewide Range0.5001

Deer Lake Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201750
Northern pike
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1
0Statewide Range19.75

Deer Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized northern-pike based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201741
Perch
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
10.4667
0Statewide Range43.5833

Deer Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Pumpkinseed
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.5714
0Statewide Range8.4166

Deer Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Rock bass
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
10
0Statewide Range4.2223

Deer Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Smallmouth bass
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
90
0Statewide Range72.1895

Deer Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202320
201720
Tiger muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
6.1333
0Statewide Range16.9168

Deer Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2023
Jul