Deer Lake near Lake Nebagamon: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Deer Lake falls inside Douglas County. Height above sea level is 1,148 feet. Surface area is around 46 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The full circuit measures close to 1.2 miles on foot. Some 1.6 miles away sits Lake Nebagamon, the nearest settlement. Superior follows at 24 miles, then Duluth at 27 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name yellow perch, walleye, white sucker, black crappie and rainbow smelt. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Deer Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 8°F to 67°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Deer Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lydon Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Deer Lake before loading the car.