Bear Lake — Michigan Fishing
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Bear Lake

📍 Manistee County, Michigan

Beautiful Manistee County lake connected to the Manistee River. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing and good walleye.

3,350
Acres
47 ft
Max depth
7
Fish species
2
Boat launches
Public access

🐟 Fish Species

Species Population Best technique
Micropterus dolomieu
Manistee River system ÔÇö rock and gravel structure
Excellent Tubes, drop shot, jigs near rocky points
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Fall run access
Good Large spoons and plugs during river runs ÔÇö deep trolling with downriggers and dipsy divers in summer
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Fall run access
Good Spoons, spinners, egg sacs during fall river runs ÔÇö also trolling with flashers in the Great Lakes
Esox lucius
Good Spoons, large swimbaits, sucker minnows under a bobber
Ambloplites rupestris
Good Small jigs, spinners, crayfish imitations
Sander vitreus
Good Jigs with minnows, crawler harnesses, trolling crankbaits
Perca flavescens
Good Small jigs tipped with minnow or waxworm, small spinners, ice fishing with teardrops and waxworms

📋 DNR Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size Notes
Apr 20, 2026 Brown Trout 9,999 7.4" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 20, 2026 Brown Trout 4,899 7.4" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 20, 2026 Rainbow Trout 5,200 7.4" Imported from DNR CSV
Jun 3, 2025 Walleye 92,256 1.1" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 29, 2025 Rainbow Trout 6,078 7.2" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 16, 2025 Brown Trout 15,595 7.8" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 16, 2025 Rainbow Trout 5,200 7.9" Imported from DNR CSV
Dec 2, 2024 Brook Trout 116 19.6" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 30, 2024 Rainbow Trout 9,673 7.6" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 5,495 7.7" Imported from DNR CSV
Mar 21, 2024 Brown Trout 14,700 6.9" Imported from DNR CSV
May 4, 2023 Rainbow Trout 6,202 6.9" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 18, 2023 Brown Trout 11,998 7.1" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 18, 2023 Rainbow Trout 4,800 7.8" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 18, 2023 Brown Trout 2,217 7.1" Imported from DNR CSV
Nov 28, 2022 Brook Trout 55 14.8" Imported from DNR CSV
Jun 24, 2022 Walleye 80,300 1.8" Imported from DNR CSV
May 10, 2022 Rainbow Trout 7,319 6.5" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 21, 2022 Brown Trout 9,641 7.2" Imported from DNR CSV
Apr 18, 2022 Brown Trout 6,157 7.2" Imported from DNR CSV

* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.

📏 Fishing Regulations

No regulations on file. Check the Michigan DNR Fishing Guide for current rules.

Boat Launches

Bear Lake Township Launch
📍 Valhalla Rd, Bear Lake, MI 49614
Paved ramp Free 30 parking spots
Amenities: Restrooms, dock
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Bear Lake Village Access
📍 Main St, Bear Lake, MI 49614
Gravel ramp Free 15 parking spots
Amenities: Basic ramp access
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