Deer Lake
Deer Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Surface area: 180.79 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Area
- 181 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 207 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Deer Lake is a 181-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Deer Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Deer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Deer Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 181 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Deer Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Belle TainePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Deer Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-06-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 9.91 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.55 | 0.41 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.30 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.08 | 0.99 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.33 | 1.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.24 | 0.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Pumpkinseed
Black Bullhead
From the 2015-06-15 survey
Deer Lake is located 0.5 miles West of Nevis, in central Hubbard County. Deer has a surface area of 181 acres and a maximum depth of 9 feet. There are two ways to access Deer Lake. The first is a city owned earthen access on the southeast shore of the lake, with limited parking area. The second way to access the lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Deer Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DeerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 207 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-04-01 (2016) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-03 (2006) | 2023-11-24 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-04
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Deer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Surface area: 180.79 acres.
Is Deer Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Deer Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Deer Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Deer Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 180.79 acres.
What fish are in Deer Lake?
- Fish species found in Deer Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, yellow bullhead. Deer Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Deer Lake thaw?
- Deer Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 17. The open water season is approximately 207 days.
Are there boat ramps on Deer Lake?
- Deer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Belle Taine. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Deer Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate