---
type: lake
name: "Roy Lake"
county: "Mahnomen"
nearest_town: "Zerkel"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 695
max_depth_ft: 16
latitude: 47.31719
longitude: -95.55282
lake_score: 61
dnr_lake_id: "44000100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/roy-lake
---

# Roy Lake

Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, near Zerkel

- **Surface Area**: 695 acres
- **Max Depth**: 16 ft
- **Shoreline**: 4.1 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 4.3 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 61/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Roy Lake is a 695-acre lake near Zerkel in Mahnomen County, Minnesota. It reaches 16 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 4.1 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 4.3 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 13 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2023.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface). OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Ice typically goes out around April 27, based on 5 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Not recorded
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 13
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2023
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 27
- **Years of record**: 5
- **Earliest**: 2004-04-14
- **Latest**: 2022-05-06

## Nearby Lakes

- [Lone Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/lone-lake) - 2.8 miles, 112 acres
- [Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/clearwater-county/island-lake) - 4.4 miles, 44 acres
- [North Twin Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/north-twin-lake) - 6 miles, 966 acres
- [Bass Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/bass-lake) - 6.5 miles, 735 acres
- [Sargent Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/sargent-lake) - 6.9 miles, 138 acres
- [South Twin Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/south-twin-lake) - 7.3 miles, 1,127 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.31719,-95.55282)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=44000100)
- [All lakes in Mahnomen County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mahnomen-county/roy-lake)*