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Pug Hole Lake

Deer Lake, Minnesota — Itasca County.

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149Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120019524).

Location & fast facts

Where Pug Hole Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Pug Hole Lake.

Fast facts

About Pug Hole Lake

  • County: Itasca
  • Town: Deer Lake
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 169 mi from Minneapolis and 82 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass and Black crappie
  • Camping. 13 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

23 ftMaximum depth
158Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black crappie, Bluegill, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Walleye, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 141 of 158 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Pug Hole Lake (DOW 31060200), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Pug Hole Lake shoreline

Pug Hole Wayside Park (campground)¼ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120019524), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Pug Hole Lake

We found 13 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Pug Hole Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

7 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.4147, -93.5857). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Pug Hole Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Pug Hole Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Pug Hole Lake

    How big is Pug Hole Lake?

    Pug Hole Lake covers about 149 acres in Deer Lake, Minnesota (Itasca County).

    How deep is Pug Hole Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 23 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Pug Hole Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed and Hybrid sunfish.

    Are there campgrounds near Pug Hole Lake?

    Yes. We list 13 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Pug Hole Lake?

    Pug Hole Lake touches Deer Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Pug Hole Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in Deer Lake