Fishing at Little Bear Lake, Burnett County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Little Bear Lake lies within the bounds of Burnett County, Wisconsin. The surface lies 968 feet up. It measures about 128 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 1.9 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Spooner sits 17 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 85 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Little Bear Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Burnett County cover brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Little Bear Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 69°F and January near 9°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Little Bear Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Sanks Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Little Bear Lake.