Bear Den Lake in Montmorency County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Bear Den Lake in the Montmorency County part of Michigan. The ground round it is lake country bush. It measures about 30 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Some 22 miles away sits Lewiston, the nearest settlement. Then Indian River, 24 miles, and Rogers City, 25 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bear Den Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Montmorency County include largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, rock bass and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Bear Den Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 17°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Bear Den Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Little Joe Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Bear Den Lake before loading the car.