Minnesota · DNR survey data

Bear Lake

Bear Lake covers 18 acres in Lake County, running to 69 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2024. 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.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
Rainbow trout
Present (last recorded 1976)

Last recorded in the 1976 survey and not seen since.

Lake trout
Present

Present in recent DNR surveys.

SplakeStocked · 2025
Present, stocked

Present and managed by the DNR.

7"21"

Lengths measured · 35 fish

Recent · 2024
3"5"10"15"20"21"

Lengths measured · 35 fish

2024
3"5"10"15"20"21"

Lengths measured · 87 fish

2019
3"5"10"15"20"21"

Lengths measured · 37 fish

2013
3"5"10"15"20"21"

Lengths measured · 10 fish

2007
3"5"10"15"20"21"

Rates 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

YearSpeciesStocked
2025Splake775 fingerlings
2023Splake2,000 fingerlings
2021Splake2,000 fingerlings
2019Splake2,100 fingerlings
2017Splake2,000 fingerlings

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.

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Lake County reports

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

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 (2024) recorded rainbow trout, lake trout, splake.

Is Bear Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked splake in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.

When was Bear Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bear Lake in 2024, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .