Beautiful Manistee County lake connected to the Manistee River. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing and good walleye.
Fishing pressure is our estimate of how busy Bear Lake is likely to be today. It looks at the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the lake has been stocked recently, because fresh stockings tend to draw anglers. Lower pressure usually means more room to work the water for atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass and black crappie.
Moderate activity expected. Midweek mornings are typically quieter.
Estimate based on day of week, season, and recent stocking. Not a live crowd count.
Combined bite activity across all 50 species in this lake.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 14" | 5 bass combined |
| Black Crappie | None | 25 sunfish combined |
| Bluegill | None | 25 sunfish combined |
| Brook Trout | 8" (most inland lakes) | 5 trout, max 3 over 15" |
| Brown Trout | 8" (most inland lakes) | 5 trout, max 3 over 15" |
| Channel Catfish | 12" | 10 |
| Muskellunge | 42" | 1 per license year (registration required) |
| Northern Pike | 24" | 2 |
| Rainbow Trout | 8" (most inland lakes) | 5 trout, max 3 over 15" |
| Walleye | 15" | 5 |
| Yellow Perch | None | 25 |
| Lake Herring | None | 5 inland (with whitefish) |
| Redear Sunfish | None | 25 sunfish combined |
| Rock Bass | None | 25 sunfish combined |
* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.
* Forecast is based on historical DNR data and is not a guarantee of future stocking.
2 public access sites are listed for Bear Lake. Select a launch for details. Details come from the Michigan DNR boating access data and can change, so check posted signs on site. See all Manistee County boat launches.