Minnesota · St. Louis County
Bear Head Lake Fishing guide
Bear Head Lake is a 662-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 46 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers11.4per gill net11"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 132 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 132 fish
2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2020Lengths measured · 96 fish
2018Lengths measured · 86 fish
2013Largemouth bassJust a few8.1per hr (electrofishing)8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 81 fish
2018Lengths measured · 9 fish
2013Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 42 fish
2010Northern pikeFair numbers7per gill net22"Typical39"Biggest
Lengths measured · 117 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 117 fish
2023Lengths measured · 21 fish
2020Lengths measured · 63 fish
2018Lengths measured · 54 fish
2013BluegillJust a few24.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 316 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 316 fish
2023Lengths measured · 166 fish
2020Lengths measured · 304 fish
2018Lengths measured · 290 fish
2013CrappieJust a few3.4per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 48 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 48 fish
2023Lengths measured · 45 fish
2020Lengths measured · 35 fish
2018Lengths measured · 45 fish
2013Yellow perchFair numbers2per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 19 fish
2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2020Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2018Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 18 fish
2013Rates 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 Bear Head Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.2 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 46 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.2 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 46 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25" | 39" | 10" |
| 2020 | 24" | 29" | — |
| 2018 | 24" | 32" | 18" |
| 2013 | 25" | 34" | 15" |
| 2011 | 26" | 35" | — |
| 2010 | 27" | 32" | 18" |
| 2009 | 27" | 33" | 8" |
| 2008 | 28" | 34" | 19" |
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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 175,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 175,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 175,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 175,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bear Head Lake, was conducted on July 28-July 30, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) staff. Nearshore sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing and 1/8" mesh mini-fyke net were completed at 14 sampling stations. Additionally, a 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations and a 15-foot seine was used at seven stations . These seine stations were completed in non-standard locations to help with sampling efforts and ensure varied habitat types. Nearshore sampling captured nine species of fish.
The nearshore data along with gill net and standard trap net data will be used to develop fish community models for Northeast Minnesota lakes, which will be used to measure lake health in this region. These models may function similarly to fish IBI models developed for lakes across much of the rest of the state. For additional information, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. You can help protect the fish community in Bear Head Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Bear Head Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Bear Head 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
- Bear Head Lake (trailer launch)
- Bear Head Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Bear Head Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Cub Lake · 8 ac · 0.8 mi
- Norberg Lake · 7 ac · 1 mi
- Eagles Nest #3 Lake · 1,028 ac · 2 mi
- Skeleton Lake · 63 ac · 2.2 mi
- Eagles Nest #2 Lake · 388 ac · 2.8 mi
- Camp Lake · 12 ac · 3 mi
- Eagles Nest No. Four Lake · 178 ac · 3.2 mi
- Eagles Nest #1 Lake · 324 ac · 3.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Bear Head Lake?
Bear Head Lake reaches 46 ft at its deepest point; about 56% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Bear Head Lake?
Bear Head Lake covers 662 acres with about 12.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Bear Head Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Bear Head Lake average 12.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Bear Head Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Bear Head Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Bear Head Lake have a public access?
Yes. Bear Head Lake has 2 public access sites, including Bear Head Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Bear Head Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2008.
When was Bear Head Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bear Head Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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