Fishing at Bear Island Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Bear Island Lake lies within the bounds of Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,407 feet. About 3.7 sq miles, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs to about 22 miles, far more than one trip can cover. Few waters listed in Saint Louis County are bigger. The town to know is Babbitt, 5 miles out. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 131 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bear Island Lake

  Sounding records show water to about 71 feet. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Bear Island Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 2°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bear Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Perch Lake at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Bear Island Lake should be assumed from this page alone.