Minnesota · Cook County
Deer Yard Lake Fishing guide
Deer Yard Lake is a 343-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 20 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2018, with walleye in the nets. That survey is 8 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around14.9per gill net10"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 283 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2018Lengths measured · 164 fish
2018Lengths measured · 119 fish
2013Lengths measured · 167 fish
2007Lengths measured · 176 fish
2004Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish walleye on Deer Yard Lake through the year
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 28" |
| 2013 | 29" |
| 2007 | 24" |
| 2004 | 20" |
| 2001 | 16" |
| 1998 | 23" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2018 survey
Deer Yard Lake has long been known for supporting very high numbers of small Walleye, with no panfish and no other gamefish species present. The current (2012) lake management plan set goals for Walleye of maintaining a high gill net catch (20 fish/set), with a mean weight for fish taken in gill nets of at least 0.7 lb/fish. This was the second of two surveys scheduled in that plan to determine whether a low Walleye catch observed in 2007 had been indicative of a real decline in Walleye abundance. Both have now been completed, and the information they've provided will be used in a revision of the current plan over the winter of 2020.
Walleye remained abundant in Deer Yard lake in 2018, and their average size remained small. The 2018 Walleye gill net catch was well above the normal range for a lake of this type, but still failed to meet the long range goal set in the 2012 plan. The mean weight for Walleye taken in gill nets was below-normal for a lake of this type, and also failed to meet the goal from the current plan. The Walleye trap net catch was also high for a lake of this class, but fish taken in trap nets were also small. Twelve year classes, all naturally produced, and including fish as old as 23 years, were included in the 2018 catch. Relatively strong year classes appeared to have been produced in 2016 and 2015, and the abundance of those small, young fish, resulted in the low mean weight seen for Walleye in 2018. Also contributing to the low mean weight was the slow growth exhibited by Walleye taken in 2018. Fish reached a mean length of just 10.7 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 12.7 inches. Slow Walleye growth has been typical in this lake, and growth rates seen in 2018 were not unusual.
Read the full DNR narrative
Slow Walleye growth in this lake is due to a combination of high Walleye numbers (high competition for forage), a lack of forage species, and competition for invertebrate forage from a relatively dense White Sucker population. The White Sucker gill net catch in 2018 was one of the highest ever seen in this lake. Most of the fish taken appeared to have been adult fish, and most were too large to have been taken by any but the largest Walleye present. Sampling using 0.25-in-mesh trap nets found no other fish species present; only a few minnows have been seen in this lake in the past. No Yellow Perch have ever been found. One past attempt at White Sucker removal in this lake (13,478 lb removed in 2000-2001) succeeded in reducing their abundance, with what appeared to have been some improvement in Walleye growth; however, both effects were very short-lived.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Deer Yard Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Deer Yard Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Deer Yard Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Deer Yard Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ward Lake · 39 ac · 1.8 mi
- Pike Lake · 814 ac · 2.3 mi
- Caribou Lake · 721 ac · 3 mi
- Mark Lake · 126 ac · 3.8 mi
- Mistletoe Lake · 145 ac · 5.3 mi
- Holly Lake · 76 ac · 5.4 mi
- Christine Lake · 184 ac · 5.9 mi
- White Pine Lake · 346 ac · 7.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Deer Yard Lake?
Deer Yard Lake reaches 20 ft at its deepest point; about 58% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Deer Yard Lake?
Deer Yard Lake covers 343 acres with about 5.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Deer Yard Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Deer Yard Lake average 9.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Deer Yard Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2018) record walleye.
Is Deer Yard Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Deer Yard Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Deer Yard Lake have a public access?
Yes. Deer Yard Lake has one public access site: Deer Yard Lake (carry-in).
How big do walleye get in Deer Yard Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1998.
When was Deer Yard Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Deer Yard Lake in 2018, the most recent of 9 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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