Bear

Aitkin County, Minnesota — DOW #01006400

56 Surveys

123.61

Acres

60 ft

Max Depth

10 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Bear. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.6 – 2.6	1.22 lb	2

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.11 lb	1
1994-08-08	Survey seining	1.7	—	0.01 lb	5
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	7.8 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.10 lb	31
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 1.2	0.10 lb	4
1977-08-24	Standard gill nets	4.0 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.11 lb	8
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	5.0 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.09 lb	15
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	1.0 – 10.3	0.10 lb	8

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	3.5 – 8.9	3.20 lb	5
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	4.47 lb	2
1977-08-24	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	3.5 – 8.9	12.00 lb	1
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	0.50 lb	1
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	2.3 (below normal)	3.5 – 8.9	3.81 lb	7
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	3.20 lb	1
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	1.8 (below normal)	3.5 – 8.9	3.89 lb	11

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 1.5	0.19 lb	2
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 1.5	0.10 lb	4
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.7 (above normal)	0.1 – 0.5	0.10 lb	4
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 1.5	0.11 lb	2

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Survey seining	0.7	—	—	2
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	1.0	—	0.15 lb	8
2004-08-09	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.26 lb	1

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Survey seining	16.7	—	—	50
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.4	2.99 lb	2
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	0.4 (normal)	0.3 – 1.4	2.00 lb	2
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.6	2.50 lb	1

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Survey seining	117.7	—	—	353
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	1.3	—	0.22 lb	5
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	31.4 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.22 lb	251
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	4.2 (below normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.10 lb	21
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	39.7 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.16 lb	238
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	3.0	—	0.24 lb	9
2004-08-09	Standard trap nets	20.0 (normal)	9.5 – 57.3	0.15 lb	180
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	1.3	—	0.19 lb	8

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Survey seining	1.7	—	—	5
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	1.3 (below normal)	1.5 – 6.8	0.17 lb	10
1977-08-24	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.10 lb	1
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	2.6 (normal)	1.5 – 6.8	0.08 lb	13
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	2.2 (normal)	1.5 – 6.8	0.20 lb	13
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.28 lb	3
2004-08-09	Standard trap nets	2.2 (normal)	1.5 – 6.8	0.23 lb	20

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Survey seining	1.3	—	—	4
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	5.3 (above normal)	1.0 – 3.9	0.11 lb	21
1994-08-08	Standard trap nets	7.6 (above normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.21 lb	61
1977-08-24	Standard gill nets	16.5 (above normal)	1.0 – 3.9	0.24 lb	33
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	4.0 (normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.19 lb	20
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	4.3 (above normal)	1.0 – 3.9	0.17 lb	13
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	16.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.19 lb	96
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	3.3 (normal)	1.0 – 3.9	0.13 lb	20
2004-08-09	Standard trap nets	4.0 (normal)	0.8 – 4.0	0.21 lb	36

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-08	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.48 lb	1
1977-08-24	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.10 lb	2
1988-08-10	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	2.03 lb	3
1988-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	4.00 lb	1
2004-08-09	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	0.31 lb	3

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-08-24	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 1.6	2.00 lb	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

McGregor, MN

(218) 429-2108

★ 5

Aitkin Rental

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6907

★ 4.5

Farm Island Repair and Marine

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6395

★ 4.7

FLOE International

McGregor, MN

(800) 336-6337

★ 4.8

Horseshoelakestorage.net

McGregor, MN

(218) 670-0063

★ 5

Libby Marine

McGregor, MN

(218) 994-9245

Resorts & Lodges Near Bear

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Bear.

Big Sandy Lake Cabin Rental

Fishing Resort McGregor

(612) 735-9455

McGregor Cabin Rentals

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 839-7545

Loaf N Leisure Resort and RV Park

Fishing Resort Aitkin

(218) 234-2882

Ole's Resort

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 426-3487

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Bear. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Crappie Bluegill Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed White Sucker Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Bear

Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

(651) 271-8600

Mille Lacs Lake Guiding

Fishing Guide

(763) 238-7507

North Mille Lacs Ice Fishing

Fishing Guide

(218) 670-5012

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Plan Your Trip to Bear

Weather forecast for Bear — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 46.2406°N, 93.3662°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Bear

DNR Fish Surveys

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Northern Pike

Golden Shiner

Hybrid Sunfish

Largemouth Bass

Bluegill

Pumpkinseed

Black Crappie

White Sucker

Black Bullhead

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Aitkin Backwoods Farm Supply LLC

Bill's Sportsmans Service

Farm Island Store

Farm Island Store & Off Sale

Glen Store

McGregor Oil

Sather's Gateway Store

Sue’s Bait shop

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

Aitkin Rental

Farm Island Repair and Marine

FLOE International

Horseshoelakestorage.net

Libby Marine

Resorts & Lodges Near Bear

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Bear

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Aitkin

Anderson

Bachelor

Ball Bluff

Bass

Bay

Plan Your Trip to Bear