Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a large inland lake in Manistee County, Michigan, adjoining the village of Bear Lake. Lake-Link lists a maximum depth of 24 feet and a mixed warmwater fishery.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Bear Lake Boat Launch (DNR)RampDNR-managed hard-surface ramp for large watercraft, 32 parking spaces, restroom (Pleasanton Township)Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Bear Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Bear Lake ↗Local tips
- Use the DNR hard-surface launch; township public access sites on the lake do not allow boat launching.
- The lake is relatively shallow (24 ft max), so target weed edges and drop-offs for bass and pike.
- Check the Michigan Fishing Guide for statewide inland size and possession limits.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
Torch Lake (Antrim County) Lake Charlevoix Burt Lake Mullett Lake Lake Gogebic Manistique Lake Black Lake Crystal Lake All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.