Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 31, 2025
Bear Island Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bear Island Lake average 5.31 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 31, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Bear Island Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 7.0 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Bear Island Lake
13 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Bear Island Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
2 public boat landings are recorded on Bear Island Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bear Island Lake average 5.31 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 31, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bear Island Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 28.94 | 0.18 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.75 | 0.35 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.31 | 1.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.77 | 0.29 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Rock Bass
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2025-07-31 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Bear Island Lake on July 31st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bear Island Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Bear IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bear Island (1882)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Bear IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Bear IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bear Island Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bear Island Lake average 5.31 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 31, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Bear Island Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bear Island Lake is dated July 31, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Bear Island Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Bear Island Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Bear Island Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bear Island Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Bear Island Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Island Lake
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