Bear Island Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Explore Lake Vermilion
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We want to see what you've caught on Bear Island Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Bear Island Lake, MN
- How big is Bear Island Lake?
- How deep is Bear Island Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Bear Island Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Bear Island Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Bear Island Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Bear Island Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Bear Island Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Bear Island Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Bear Island Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Bear Island Lake?
How big is Bear Island Lake?
How deep is Bear Island Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Bear Island Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Logperch and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Bear Island Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Bear Island Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Bear Island Lake?
Are there boat launches on Bear Island Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Bear Island Lake?
Explore the Bear Island Lake area in a RV
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History & Status of the Fishery
Bear Island Lake is a 2,351-acre lake that is ten miles southwest of Ely. There are three public accesses with boat ramps on the lake. Bear Island Lake is up to 62 feet deep and has shoreline substrates that are mostly rubble, boulder, and gravel. The lake has brown, bog-stained water with roughly 7 feet of visibility. Aquatic vegetation is sparse along most of the shoreline.
Bear Island Lake was thermally stratified on August 7, 2023, with a surface temperature of 73 F and a temperature of 44 F near the bottom. Adequate oxygen levels for warmwater fish species were retained to a depth of 45 feet where the water temperature was 45 F.
Walleye were sampled at a rate of 7.9 fish/gill net, which was slightly above average for the lake. Walleye sampled in gill nets averaged 14.3 inches in length, and 35% of the fish were over 16.0 inches. Walleye ages ranged from 1 to 21 and indicated consistent recruitment. Walleye fry are stocked into Bear Island Lake in odd years, but ages indicated that natural reproduction is also occurring in the lake.
Northern pike were sampled at a rate of 3.9 fish/gill net, which was slightly higher than average for Bear Island Lake. The average length was 23.8 inches, which was larger than the historical average for the lake. The largest pike sampled in 2023 was 37.2 inches long.
Bluegill were sampled at a rate of 10.7 fish/trap net, which was higher than the historical average for the lake. The average bluegill was 6.4 inches long, and 28% of the catch was 7.0 inches or larger. The largest bluegill was 9.5 inches in length, and bluegill ages ranged from 2 to 10.
Black crappie were sampled at a rate of 1.3 fish/trap net, which was similar to the historical average for the lake. Black crappie averaged 7.7 inches in length, and the largest individual was 8.5 inches. Black crappie ages ranged from 2 to 7.
Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are present in Bear Island Lake, although the gill nets and trap nets are inefficient at catching them. In this survey, 12 smallmouth bass and 3 largemouth bass were sampled. Smallmouth bass averaged 13.5 inches in length and the largest individual was 17.2 inches. Largemouth bass averaged 14.3 inches in length and the largest individual was 19.3 inches.
Additional species sampled in 2023 included cisco, hybrid sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow perch.
What is the average air temp for Bear Island Lake?
Are there any state parks near Bear Island Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Bear Island Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Muckwa Lake | 1.9 mi | 147 | 8.5 ft |
| Perch Lake | 2.7 mi | 100 | 13 ft |
| Whisper Lake | 2.7 mi | 46 | 25 ft |
| Sock Lake | 2.9 mi | 25 | |
| Cold Lake | 3.1 mi | 15 | 17 ft |
| Joseph Lake | 3.5 mi | 76 | 23 ft |
| Johnson Lake | 3.6 mi | 456 | 18 ft |
| Spruce Lake | 3.6 mi | 42 | 7 ft |
| Purvis Lake | 3.9 mi | 53 | 50 ft |
| Canary Lake | 3.9 mi | 22 |
