Bear Lake, Barron County Fishing
A 1,348-acre Wisconsin lake in Barron County and Washburn County, down to 87 feet.
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The basics of Bear Lake, Barron County for anglers
Bear Lake, Barron County is a lake of 1,348 acres lying in Barron County and Washburn County. The bottom drops to 87 feet at most, with a mean of 20 feet. For a home base, Haugen is roughly 3 miles away. It falls in the WDNR Northern Region. Its WDNR lake class is complex two story.
The state designates it an Outstanding Resource Water. Being in the ceded territory, it follows the three-walleye bag. Find a Lake shows largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish, walleye and smallmouth bass. Public launching comes through 5 public boat landings. About 6.4 feet of clarity, by the 2017 satellite estimate.
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Abundance labels for Bear Lake, Barron County come straight from the WDNR lake page.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
WDNR on lakes like Bear Lake, Barron County
“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Launching on Bear Lake, Barron County
- Bear Lake (18th Street) Public Boat Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Oak Grove
- Bear Lake (28 3/4 Ave.)Public Boat Landing1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Parks & Recreation Dept.
- Bear Lake Access near Haugen (WDNR 1465)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Sarona
- Bear Lake Public Boat Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Parks & Recreation Dept.
- Bear Lake Access near Haugen (WDNR 1464)carry-in, Town of Sarona
Other launches near Bear Lake, Barron County
- Kekagama Lake AccessKekagama Lake, 2 miles north
- Upper Devils Lake AccessUpper Devils Lake, 3 miles east
- Kelly Lake AccessKelly Lake, 4 miles west
- Butternut Lake Access near Haugen (WDNR 1227)Butternut Lake, 4 miles west
- Butternut Lake Access near Haugen (WDNR 1226)Butternut Lake, 4 miles west
- Fenton Lake Access near HaugenFenton Lake, 5 miles northeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Water quality and bottom at Bear Lake, Barron County
Expect a bottom of 75% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck on Bear Lake, Barron County.
By water source, Bear Lake, Barron County counts as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasive species the WDNR has confirmed in Bear Lake, Barron County: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed and purple loosestrife. Clean boats and drain live wells before leaving the landing.
On Bear Lake, Barron County, local rules cover motorboat prohibition, horsepower limits, speed limits (mph), slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Seasons and bag limits on Bear Lake, Barron County
For Bear Lake, Barron County, the DNR regulation search returns the rows shown here.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
The all-species line for Bear Lake, Barron County reads: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
The Barron County entry says: Barron County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
Pike rules here follow the zone north of Hwy 10; bass follow the Northern or Southern Bass Zone (the county is split; see the guide map).
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Bear Lake, Barron County against nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake, Barron County | 1,348 | 87 | 5 | complex two story | |
| Mitchell Lake | 1 mile southwest | 29 | 14 | 0 | simple warm clear |
| Bass Lake near Haugen, Barron County | 1 mile south | 30 | 21 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Kekegama Lake | 2 miles north | 128 | 24 | 1 | simple warm clear |
| Star Lake, Washburn County | 2 miles northeast | 21 | 13 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Monday Lake | 2 miles northeast | 92 | 25 | 0 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Close to Bear Lake, Barron County
More water to try near Bear Lake, Barron County
- Mitchell Lake1 mile southwest
- Bass Lake near Haugen, Barron County1 mile south
- Kekegama Lake2 miles north
- Star Lake, Washburn County2 miles northeast
- Monday Lake2 miles northeast
Shops that serve Bear Lake, Barron County anglers
- K&t Archery And Sport Shopsporting goods store, Sarona, 6 miles
- Intruder Incbait and tackle shop, Rice Lake, 11 miles
- Walmart Rice Lakefarm and general store with fishing gear, Rice Lake, 11 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Rice Lakefarm and general store with fishing gear, Rice Lake, 11 miles
- Long Lake Bait Tackle & C-STRbait and tackle shop, Sarona, 12 miles
- Friess's Minnow Farmbait and tackle shop, Cumberland, 13 miles
Communities around Bear Lake, Barron County
- Haugen3 miles
- Shell Lake8 miles
- Barronett8 miles
Counties holding Bear Lake, Barron County
- Barron Countyseat: Barron
- Washburn Countyseat: Shell Lake
Piscifun reels sized for Bear Lake, Barron County
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Water close to Bear Lake, Barron County in photographs
Photo: Charlocharlie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Jeff the quiet, CC0 1.0
Common questions about fishing Bear Lake, Barron County
Where in Wisconsin is Bear Lake, Barron County?
Barron County and Washburn County holds it, WDNR Northern Region, about 3 miles from Haugen.
How deep does Bear Lake, Barron County get?
Roughly 1,348 acres and 87 feet at the deepest.
Which public landing serves anglers on Bear Lake, Barron County?
There are 5 mapped landings; Bear Lake (18th Street) Public Boat Landing has the most lanes.
Is Bear Lake, Barron County good for panfish?
WDNR lists largemouth bass (common), northern pike (common), panfish (common), walleye (common) and smallmouth bass (present).
Which WDNR rules cover Bear Lake, Barron County?
For Walleye, sauger and hybrids, The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Which Wisconsin license covers fishing Bear Lake, Barron County?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the water like in Bear Lake, Barron County?
Satellite clarity about 6.4 feet (2017). Bottom: 75% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to Bear Lake, Barron County?
Drive 6 miles to reach K&t Archery And Sport Shop.
Do I need to clean my boat after Bear Lake, Barron County?
Yes, banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed and purple loosestrife.
Trailer up for Bear Lake, Barron County
Check the posted rules before keeping fish.