Minnesota · Cook County
East Bearskin Lake Fishing guide
East Bearskin Lake covers 593 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 66 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.8per gill net15"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 25 fish
2023Lengths measured · 33 fish
2020Lengths measured · 24 fish
2016Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012No recent survey rating.
Smallmouth bassPresent0.6per gill net3"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2020Lengths measured · 3 fish
2016Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 24 fish
2012No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchJust a few0.8per gill net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Lengths measured · 28 fish
2020Lengths measured · 22 fish
2016Lengths measured · 244 fish
2012Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
Rates 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 East Bearskin Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.3 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 66 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 10.3 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 66 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.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28" | 13" | 36" |
| 2020 | 21" | 16" | 32" |
| 2016 | 22" | 15" | 23" |
| 2012 | 24" | 15" | 31" |
| 2009 | 24" | 15" | 43" |
| 2004 | 26" | 17" | 23" |
| 2001 | 25" | 7" | 26" |
| 1998 | 23" | 16" | 28" |
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
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | 300,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2021 | Lake Trout | 5,720 yearlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2019 | Lake Trout | 4,977 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 330,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in East Bearskin Lake on August 6th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 65.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 59.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 57.2 feet at the time of sampling. Therefore, the water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Lake Trout.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 8.9 degrees C (48.0 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 9 years, between 1956-2023, indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in most years when surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
East Bearskin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on East 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
- East Bearskin Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
East Bearskin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ruby Lake · 15 ac · 0.7 mi
- Rudy Lake · 41 ac · 1.2 mi
- Flour Lake · 330 ac · 1.2 mi
- Crocodile Lake · 295 ac · 1.6 mi
- Moon Lake · 148 ac · 1.8 mi
- Swamper Lake · 51 ac · 2.1 mi
- Aspen Lake · 141 ac · 2.2 mi
- Wampus Lake · 30 ac · 2.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is East Bearskin Lake?
East Bearskin Lake reaches 66 ft at its deepest point; about 25% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is East Bearskin Lake?
East Bearskin Lake covers 593 acres with about 13.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in East Bearskin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on East Bearskin Lake average 10.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in East Bearskin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake trout.
Is East Bearskin Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does East Bearskin Lake have a public access?
Yes. East Bearskin Lake has one public access site: East Bearskin Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in East Bearskin Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1998.
When was East Bearskin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed East Bearskin Lake in 2024, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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