Fishing Bear Lake

Bear Lake delivers excellent walleye fishing with 91% of fish over the 15-inch legal size and growth exceeding state average by at least an inch for mature fish. The walleye population is remarkably healthy, with seven different year classes indicating strong natural reproduction supplemented by stocking every third year at 25 fingerlings per acre. Walleyes spawn along the north shoreline west of Little Bay in spring. Bluegill fishing is outstanding, with growth exceeding state average by a full inch - 83% of catchable bluegills exceed 6 inches and nearly 25% top 8 inches. The 1998 year class was exceptionally strong with over 700 yearlings captured. Rock bass provide good action with over half exceeding 7 inches and growth 0.6 inches above average. Smallmouth bass fishing appears better than survey data suggests based on angler reports, though growth runs behind state average. Northern pike numbers may have declined in the 1990s with poor growth rates and only 23% reaching the 24-inch legal size. Two-thirds of the 1,843-acre lake sits in less than 20 feet of water. The lake features sandy bottom with sparse aquatic vegetation in depths under 10 feet, including chara, elodea, potamogeton, and Eurasion milfoil. Secchi depth averages 10.6 feet with alkalinity of 96-98. Large adult white sucker populations may compete with young walleye and yellow perch for food, which could explain the poor perch growth despite a strong 1998 year class. The lake maintains excellent water quality with no major limnological changes in 25 years.