Bear Lake Fishing near Rogers City, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Presque Isle County, Michigan. Around the bank it is rolling bush. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Presque Isle County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 12 miles away sits Rogers City, the nearest settlement. Alpena is 30 miles and Lewiston 32 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Presque Isle County: rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, lake whitefish and lake trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Bear Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Lake Louise is 0.8 miles distant. Ask locally about Bear Lake if anything is unclear.