Bear Lake Fishing near Saint Helen, Michigan

• Overview

  Bear Lake lies in Roscommon County, in Michigan. The bank is 1,188 feet above sea level. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Roscommon County standards. Nearest place of any size is Saint Helen, 6 miles away. For a city, Lansing is 119 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Roscommon County include rock bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Bear Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Bear Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Beaver Lake Flooding, 4.4 miles out. Check the position at Bear Lake before loading the car.