Deer Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

• Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.

Special Species Regulations

• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
• Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
• Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
• Bluegill: See Panfish.
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 24” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3
• Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
• Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
• Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Channel catfish: See Catfish.
• Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
• White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
• Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
• Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
• Crappies: See Panfish.