Bear Island Lake Fishing
St. Louis County, 2,362 acres, 62 feet deep.
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Key facts on Bear Island Lake
Bear Island Lake covers 2,362 acres of St. Louis County, by the LakeFinder record. The deepest hole runs 62 feet, with an average of 23.4 feet. Shallow water under 15 feet covers 938 acres, roughly 40% of the surface. The closest incorporated city is Babbitt, about 9 miles away. DNR fisheries staff in Tower oversee it.
Fish recorded in DNR nets include walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. 3 public water accesses sit on the shore. DNR netting for the standard survey took place on August 7, 2023. The DNR counted 7.92 walleye per gill net, within its normal range of 3.1-9.8.
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Catch per net set from the standard survey dated August 7, 2023, beside the range the DNR treats as normal for similar lakes.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 95 | 7.92 | 3.1-9.8 | 1.21 | 0.7-1.3 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 4 | 0.27 | 0.3-1.3 | 1.66 | 0.5-1.4 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 47 | 3.92 | 1.2-3.6 | 3.24 | 1.9-3.6 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 14 | 0.93 | 1.73 | ||
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 26 | 2.17 | 1.9-7.1 | 0.13 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 3 | 0.2 | 0.4-1.9 | 0.17 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 2 | 0.17 | 0.2-1.4 | 0.17 | 0.2-0.5 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 19 | 1.27 | 1.6-3.3 | 0.27 | 0.2-0.7 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 6 | 0.5 | 0.41 | ||
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 160 | 10.67 | 0.8-8.7 | 0.18 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 3 | 0.2 | 0.1-0.7 | 2.24 | 0.1-1.0 |
| Smallmouth bass | Standard gill nets | 12 | 1 | 0.3-0.7 | 1.52 | 0.5-1.3 |
Fish per species in the Bear Island Lake gill nets
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
What the survey report says about Bear Island Lake
“Bear Island Lake is a 2,351-acre lake that is ten miles southwest of Ely.”
“There are three public accesses with boat ramps on the lake.”
“Bear Island Lake is up to 62 feet deep and has shoreline substrates that are mostly rubble, boulder, and gravel.”
“The lake has brown, bog-stained water with roughly 7 feet of visibility.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Bear Island Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Boat landings on Bear Island Lake
- Bear Island Lake (NE) Access near Babbitt1 ramp, 3 trailer stalls, 1 dock, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Bear Island Lake (NE) Access near Ely1 ramp, 3 trailer stalls, St. Louis County
- Bear Island Lake (S) Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, St. Louis County
Boat launches serving Bear Island Lake
- Perch Lake Access near BabbittPerch, 3 miles southeast
- Whisper Lake AccessWhisper, 3 miles southeast
- Birch Lake (W) AccessBirch, 3 miles south
- Joseph Lake AccessJoseph, 3 miles southwest
- Johnson Lake Access near ElyJohnson, 4 miles northeast
- One Pine Lake AccessOne Pine, 4 miles northeast
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
How deep Bear Island Lake gets
Bear Island Lake has 6 clarity readings on file since 2008.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
Lake gauge on Bear Island Lake
This Bear Island Lake series is read by hand and logged by the DNR.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Species in the Bear Island Lake surveys
LakeFinder builds the Bear Island Lake list from survey catches; a fish not netted may still be present.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Rules for fishing Bear Island Lake
Nothing beyond the statewide rows is posted for Bear Island Lake.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession, all from 30-40" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 northern pike over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
Pike and bass rows follow the Northeast Zone, where the map puts Bear Island Lake; posted boundaries govern near the zone lines.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Nearby lakes against Bear Island Lake
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Island Lake | 2,362 | 62 | 3 | 7.92 | |
| Muckwa Lake, St. Louis County | 2 miles northwest | 147 | 8.5 | 0 | 25 |
| Perch Lake near Babbitt, St. Louis County | 3 miles southeast | 100 | 13 | 1 | 4.33 |
| Whisper Lake | 3 miles southeast | 46 | 25 | 1 | 7 |
| Cold Lake | 3 miles southwest | 15 | 17 | 0 | |
| Joseph Lake | 4 miles southwest | 76 | 23 | 1 | 8.33 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
In the neighborhood of Bear Island Lake
Neighbor lakes around Bear Island Lake
- Muckwa Lake, St. Louis County2 miles northwest
- Perch Lake near Babbitt, St. Louis County3 miles southeast
- Whisper Lake3 miles southeast
- Cold Lake3 miles southwest
- Joseph Lake4 miles southwest
Bait and tackle closest to Bear Island Lake
- Kinsey Houseboats Marinamarina, St. Louis, 3 miles
- Just Bite Me Miller Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Babbitt, 4 miles
- Back Country Guided Huntssporting goods store, Babbitt, 5 miles
- Babes Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ely, 10 miles
- Piragis Outfitterssporting goods store, Ely, 10 miles
- The Great Outdoorssporting goods store, Ely, 10 miles
Minnesota towns closest to Bear Island Lake
- Babbitt9 miles
- Ely10 miles
- Soudan13 miles
Bear Island Lake, county lines
- St. Louis Countyseat: Duluth
Piscifun gear suited to Bear Island Lake
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Bear Island Lake questions with short answers
What part of Minnesota holds Bear Island Lake?
Find it in St. Louis County, managed from the Tower fisheries office, about 9 miles from Babbitt.
How deep is Bear Island Lake?
Roughly 2,362 acres, 62 feet at the deepest.
Which landing do I use on Bear Island Lake?
Try Bear Island Lake (NE) Access near Ely, one of 3 public accesses.
Which fish has the DNR netted in Bear Island Lake?
Survey records show walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
How does Bear Island Lake compare in DNR nets?
The standard survey of August 7, 2023. walleye ran 7.92 per gill net.
Which DNR rules apply on Bear Island Lake?
Statewide inland limits apply; the Northeast Zone rows cover pike and bass.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Bear Island Lake?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
What is the ice-out date for Bear Island Lake?
Secchi readings average 8.2 feet.
Which bait shop is closest to Bear Island Lake?
Kinsey Houseboats Marina is about 3 miles from the lake.
Spend a weekend on Bear Island Lake
Read the special regulations before you keep fish.