Minnesota · St. Louis County
Bear Island Lake Fishing guide
Bear Island Lake is a 2,363-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 62 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers6.1per gill net14"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 151 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 99 fish
2023Lengths measured · 52 fish
2021Lengths measured · 64 fish
2018Lengths measured · 127 fish
2013Smallmouth bassPresent1.3per gill net14"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 20 fish
2021Lengths measured · 17 fish
2018Lengths measured · 16 fish
2013Northern pikeJust a few3per gill net22"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 87 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 61 fish
2023Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2018Lengths measured · 64 fish
2013BluegillJust a few10.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 166 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 165 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 35 fish
2018Lengths measured · 337 fish
2013CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 21 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2018Lengths measured · 23 fish
2013Yellow perchFair numbers1.6per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 29 fish
2023Lengths measured · 13 fish
2021Lengths measured · 9 fish
2018Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 29 fish
2013Rock bassOne of the best around7.4per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 184 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 136 fish
2023Lengths measured · 48 fish
2021Lengths measured · 147 fish
2018Lengths measured · 136 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 Island Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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 62 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 62 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 27" | 19" | 17" |
| 2021 | 27" | — | 17" |
| 2018 | 23" | 17" | 17" |
| 2013 | 29" | 7" | 15" |
| 2008 | 27" | 12" | 18" |
| 2003 | 26" | 6" | 18" |
| 1998 | 24" | 5" | 17" |
| 1993 | 20" | — | 12" |
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
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 | 900,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 900,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 900,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 900,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,000,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 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 this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 55.8 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 14.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 42.6 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 27.8 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 10.6 degrees C (51.1 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2021, 2023, 2024 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 11.2 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Bear Island Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Bear Island 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 Island Lake (NE) (trailer launch)
- Bear Island Lake (NE) (trailer launch)
- Bear Island Lake (S) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Bear Island Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Muckwa Lake · 147 ac · 1.8 mi
- Perch Lake · 100 ac · 2.8 mi
- Whisper Lake · 46 ac · 2.9 mi
- Cold Lake · 15 ac · 3 mi
- Joseph Lake · 77 ac · 3.4 mi
- Johnson Lake · 456 ac · 3.5 mi
- Purvis Lake · 53 ac · 3.7 mi
- Blueberry Lake · 125 ac · 4.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Bear Island Lake?
Bear Island Lake reaches 62 ft at its deepest point; about 37% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Bear Island Lake?
Bear Island Lake covers 2,363 acres with about 28.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Bear Island Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Bear Island Lake average 8.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Bear Island Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Bear Island Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Bear Island Lake have a public access?
Yes. Bear Island Lake has 3 public access sites, including Bear Island Lake (NE) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Bear Island Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Bear Island Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bear Island Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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