Fishing Bear Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan

• Overview

  Bear Lake lies within the bounds of Roscommon County, Michigan. What surrounds it is rolling bush. Roughly 36 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 0.9 miles, and most of it is walkable. Houghton Lake lies 9.4 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 107 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Roscommon County cover rock bass, yellow perch and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Bear Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 67°F for July and 18°F for January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Grass Lake is 6.2 miles distant. The position on Bear Lake is worth confirming on the day.