Minnesota · Cook County
Bearskin Lake Fishing guide
Bearskin Lake covers 509 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 78 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 19.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Smallmouth bassPresent4per gill net11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2019Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2008Northern pikeJust a few2per gill net24"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 19 fish
2023Lengths measured · 6 fish
2019Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2016Lengths measured · 2 fish
2008Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few0.6per trap net4"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2019Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 28 fish
2016Lengths measured · 17 fish
2008Yellow perchJust a few1.1per gill net6"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 8 fish
2019Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2016Lengths measured · 1 fish
2002Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lake troutPresentPresent in recent DNR surveys.
Present in recent DNR surveys.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 14 fish
2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 32 fish
2008Rates 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 Bearskin Lake through the year
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 19.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 78 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 19.4 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 78 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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike | Lake trout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 19" | 35" | 26" |
| 2019 | 12" | 33" | 30" |
| 2016 | 19" | 33" | 30" |
| 2008 | 17" | 37" | 23" |
| 2002 | 13" | 25" | 32" |
| 1999 | 6" | 25" | 29" |
| 1996 | 11" | — | 30" |
| 1993 | 15" | — | 27" |
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:
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Lake trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Lake trout · Hardbaits
Casting Spoon (Kastmaster, stream/stocked trout)
1/8–1/4 oz compact casting spoon
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
West Bearskin Lake is a 509-acre lake located 23 miles northwest of Grand Marais with a public access boat launch on the east shore of the lake and carry-in portage landing along the south shore. Primary and secondary management species in West Bearskin Lake are lake trout and smallmouth bass. The 2023 standard lake survey was conducted to monitor the fish community in West Bearskin, record current limnological conditions, and evaluate management goals for lake trout and smallmouth bass populations.
Lake trout abundance was slightly below average but within the normal range West Bearskin Lake. Catch rates continued to meet management goals. Lake trout ranged from 11.7 to 26.5 inches in length. Aging data obtained from captured lake trout indicated fish were from 7 different naturally reproduced year classes and up to 13 years old. No fish were found from the last stocking event in 2009. The 2023 survey results suggest that West Bearskin Lake continues to support a relatively healthy naturally reproducing lake trout population. Naturally reproducing lake trout populations are unique in Minnesota lakes, anglers targeting lake trout should consider catch and release practices with safe handling procedures.
Read the full DNR narrative
Smallmouth bass abundance was high in West Bearskin Lake and above average for similar lakes in the area. Smallmouth bass management goals were met. Fish ranged from 5.9 to 17.4 inches with a mean length of 10.8 inches. West Bearskin Lake should provide good opportunities for anglers looking to target smallmouth bass in both quality and quantity.
Northern pike abundance was well above average for similar lakes and in the upper range for West Bearskin Lake. Northern pike captured in the survey ranged from 16.6 to 35.2 inches with a mean length of 23.1 inches. West Bearskin provides anglers the opportunity of catching memorable sized (> 34 inches) fish.
Bluegill, green sunfish, and yellow perch relative abundances in trap nets were low and similar to historical values. However, yellow perch catch rates in gill net sets were high. None of these fish were found larger than 7 inches and would not be of interest to anglers. Rainbow smelt abundance was down from the previous two surveys, but comparable to historic catches. Smelt can provide forage for lake trout, but may also compete with young lake trout, and may prey directly on larval fish.
Cook County, Minnesota lakes continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Bearskin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Bearskin 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
- West Bearskin Lake (trailer launch)
- West Bearskin Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Bearskin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hungry Jack Lake · 474 ac · 0.6 mi
- Wampus Lake · 30 ac · 1.2 mi
- Daniels Lake · 509 ac · 1.4 mi
- Duncan Lake · 477 ac · 1.7 mi
- Aspen Lake · 141 ac · 1.9 mi
- Moss Lake · 254 ac · 2.2 mi
- Leo Lake · 102 ac · 2.2 mi
- Squint Lake · 16 ac · 2.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Bearskin Lake?
Bearskin Lake reaches 78 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 31 ft; about 18% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Bearskin Lake?
Bearskin Lake covers 509 acres with about 8.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Bearskin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Bearskin Lake average 19.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Bearskin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, lake trout.
Is Bearskin Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Bearskin Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Bearskin Lake have a public access?
Yes. Bearskin Lake has 2 public access sites, including West Bearskin Lake (trailer launch).
How big do smallmouth bass get in Bearskin Lake?
The biggest smallmouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Bearskin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bearskin Lake in 2023, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Bearskin Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Bearskin Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report