Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 8, 2008
Species recorded at Bear Lake
4 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 Lake
No stocking record for Bear Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2008 caught 10.67 smallmouth bass per gill net at Bear Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bear Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-07-08 (Standard Survey).
1 survey on file · most recent 2008-07-08 (Standard Survey)
18 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.37 | 4–10 in 2008-07-08 | 0.18 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6.80 | 5–17 in 2008-07-08 | 0.34 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.62 | 7–21 in 2008-07-08 | 1.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.06 | 3–6 in 2008-07-08 | 0.1 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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
Smallmouth Bass
White Sucker
Pumpkinseed
From the 2008-07-08 survey
There is no public access to, or public land abutting Bear Lake. Self-sustaining populations of smallmouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and white sucker exists in the lake. Neascus and yellow grub were common in the smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bear Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bear Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2008 caught 10.67 smallmouth bass per gill net at Bear Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 4 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 Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bear Lake is dated July 8, 2008. 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 Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Bear Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Bear Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bear Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Bear Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Bear Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Bear Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.