Bear Lake in Spokane County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Spokane County, Washington. Everything around it is mixed woodland. Around 33 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The nearest town is Deer Park, 6 miles away. Mead is 11 miles away, with Fairwood at 11 miles. Within a short run: Owens Lake at about 0.6 miles, Bailey Lake after 3.8 miles, Little Trout Lake at about 4.1 miles, Dead Mans Lake after 4.5 miles and Reflection Lake at about 6 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name largemouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rainbow trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Bear Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 27°F in January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. At Bear Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Owens Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Bear Lake in particular, ask before you travel.