Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 24, 2023
Deep Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Deep Lake average 9.23 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–15 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Deep Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 17.2 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Deep Lake
10 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Deep Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Deep Lake average 9.23 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–15 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Deep Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 9.23 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.64 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.29 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.89 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.11 | 3.41 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.00 | 0.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-07-24 survey
Deep Lake is a 73-acre lake located two miles south of Gilbert. There is a public access with an earthen boat ramp located near the south end of the lake off CR 97. The access is relatively small, with limited space for parking or turning around. Deep Lake has relatively steep drop-offs, especially along the north…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Deep Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DeepFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Deep (1763)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DeepFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Deep Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Deep Lake average 9.23 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–15 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 10 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Deep Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Deep Lake is dated July 24, 2023. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Deep Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Deep Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Deep Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Deep Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Deep Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Deep Lake
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