Deep Lake Fishing near Ortonville, Minnesota

• Overview

  Deep Lake lies within the bounds of Big Stone County, Minnesota. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. Roughly 31 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Our Big Stone County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Ortonville, is 4 miles away. It is 107 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Deep Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Big Stone County records list common carp, yellow perch, walleye, black bullhead and orangespotted sunfish among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Deep Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 72°F; by January the average is down near 10°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Deep Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. This sits inside Reisdorph Wildlife Management Area, so read the reserve notices first. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Walter Lake is 2.1 miles off. Signs at Deep Lake carry more weight than any list.