Bear Lake Fishing near Laurium, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Bear Lake in Houghton County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 627 feet. It measures about 99 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 2.5 miles on foot. On our Houghton County list it sits near the top for size. Laurium sits 7.1 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Hancock (7.3 miles) and Houghton (7.8 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Bear Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 15°F in January to roughly 64°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Anyone fishing Bear Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Tear Lake, 3.8 miles away. Signs at Bear Lake carry more weight than any list.