Minnesota · DNR survey data
Bear Lake
Bear Lake covers 1,033 acres in Freeborn County, running to 6 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2009. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeStocked · 2016Fair numbers7per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2009Lengths measured · 13 fish
2009Lengths measured · 78 fish
1993No recent survey rating.
CrappieFair numbers14.3per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2009Lengths measured · 69 fish
2009Lengths measured · 18 fish
1993Yellow perchOne of the best around38per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2009Lengths measured · 51 fish
2009Lengths measured · 72 fish
1993Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Northern Pike | 325 adults |
Recent reports
Bear Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Bear 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 Lake (trailer launch)
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- State Line Lake · 372 ac · 2.9 mi
- Pickeral Lake · 588 ac · 7.4 mi
- White Lake · 168 ac · 9.1 mi
- Morin Lake · 21 ac · 9.6 mi
- Fountain Lake · 522 ac · 9.9 mi
- Albert Lea Lake · 2,669 ac · 11.4 mi
- Rice Lake · 266 ac · 13.4 mi
- Freeborn Lake · 2,034 ac · 13.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is there a depth map for Bear Lake?
The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Bear Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
The most recent DNR survey (2009) recorded northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Does Bear Lake have a public access?
Yes. Bear Lake has one public access site: Bear Lake (trailer launch).
Is Bear Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2016.
When was Bear Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bear Lake in 2009, the most recent of 2 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →
Page updated .