Bearpaw Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bearpaw Lake is one of the Iron County listings for Michigan. It lies 1,709 feet above sea level. Small at around 13 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in Michigan. The town to know is Iron River, 13 miles out. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 119 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Bearpaw Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Iron County records list brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Bearpaw Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 9°F to 65°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Anyone fishing Bearpaw Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Squaw Lake, 0.4 miles out. Nothing on Bearpaw Lake should be assumed from this page alone.