Fishing Bear Lake in Warren County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Out in Warren County, Pennsylvania, sits Bear Lake. The ground around here is lake country bush. The water measures roughly 11 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Warren County. Nearest place of any size is Clymer, 8.2 miles away. For a city, Buffalo is 69 miles off. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Warren County include brown trout, brook trout, walleye, smallmouth bass and silver redhorse. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Bear Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 68°F, the coldest about 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Bear Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Chautauqua Lake, 13 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Bear Lake locally before you travel.