Black Bear

Crow Wing County, Minnesota — DOW #18014000

159 Surveys

Invasive Species Alert

Black Bear has confirmed populations of:

zebra mussel

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

218.06

Acres

48 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 3.2	0.10 lb	1
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.8 – 7.7	0.52 lb	5
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.8 – 7.7	0.61 lb	1

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.4 – 2.1	0.60 lb	4
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.1	0.58 lb	1
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.1	0.80 lb	2

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.20 lb	3
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	2.0 (below normal)	3.4 – 43.6	0.20 lb	8
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.7 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.12 lb	10
1998-06-08	Survey seining	15.5	—	—	62
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	4.8 (normal)	3.4 – 43.6	0.34 lb	19
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	3.4 – 43.6	0.35 lb	3
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	5.2	—	—	7
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.20 lb	3
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	1.3	—	—	1
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	0.1	—	—	1
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.20 lb	18

Green Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 2.3	0.10 lb	1
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.3 – 2.3	0.05 lb	4
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.5	—	—	2
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	0.4	—	—	3
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	18.5	—	—	25
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 2.3	0.12 lb	1
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	32.6	—	—	25
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	0.7	—	—	5
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 2.3	0.14 lb	2

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.51 lb	10
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	6.5 (normal)	1.3 – 9.8	0.54 lb	39
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.44 lb	1
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.3 – 9.8	0.39 lb	1
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	5.1 (normal)	1.3 – 9.8	0.58 lb	46
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.80 lb	1
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.76 lb	3
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	4.2 (normal)	1.3 – 9.8	0.62 lb	38

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	5.0 (normal)	3.5 – 10.5	2.04 lb	20
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.8	—	0.60 lb	5
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	8.5 (normal)	3.5 – 10.5	1.78 lb	34
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	0.66 lb	2
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	5.8 (normal)	3.5 – 10.5	1.78 lb	23
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	0.7	—	—	1
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	0.91 lb	3
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	3.2 (below normal)	3.5 – 10.5	2.80 lb	19
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	0.70 lb	4

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.9	0.40 lb	5
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	4.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.8	0.32 lb	29
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.8	—	—	3
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.3 – 1.9	0.46 lb	4
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 1.8	0.35 lb	11
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	1.0 (normal)	0.5 – 1.8	0.36 lb	9
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 1.8	0.36 lb	7

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	4.70 lb	3
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.7	3.40 lb	1
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	6.51 lb	2
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.7	2.98 lb	1
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	3.14 lb	2

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.8	—	0.42 lb	5
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	5.0	—	0.21 lb	30
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	12.6	—	—	17
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	5.3	—	0.26 lb	48
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	0.6	—	—	4
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	14.3	—	—	11
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.37 lb	5
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	8.0	—	0.30 lb	72

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.17 lb	3
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	35.2 (normal)	6.1 – 46.6	0.15 lb	211
1998-06-08	Survey seining	34.5	—	—	138
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	3.0	—	0.05 lb	12
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	28.3 (normal)	6.1 – 46.6	0.10 lb	170
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.0	—	0.23 lb	4
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	15.6	—	—	21
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	11.1 (normal)	6.1 – 46.6	0.19 lb	100
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	0.3	—	—	2
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	35.2	—	—	27
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	1.5	—	—	3
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	3.0	—	—	21
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.27 lb	2
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	12.9 (normal)	6.1 – 46.6	0.12 lb	116

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.20 lb	1
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	7.0 (normal)	2.0 – 8.5	0.24 lb	42
1998-06-08	Survey seining	1.0	—	—	4
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	3.7 (normal)	2.0 – 8.5	0.21 lb	22
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	5.2	—	—	7
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	1.0 (below normal)	2.0 – 8.5	0.26 lb	9
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	2.6	—	—	2
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	0.1	—	—	1
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	2.0 – 8.5	0.13 lb	18

Tullibee (Cisco)

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	23.5 (above normal)	0.5 – 4.8	0.96 lb	94
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	18.5 (above normal)	0.5 – 4.8	0.66 lb	74
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	17.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 4.8	0.71 lb	69
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	37.7 (above normal)	0.5 – 4.8	0.53 lb	226

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 2.7	3.10 lb	5
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.7	3.30 lb	1

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	0.6 – 3.5	0.25 lb	10
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	3.5 (above normal)	0.7 – 3.4	0.32 lb	21
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	9.5 (above normal)	0.6 – 3.5	0.17 lb	38
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.7 – 3.4	0.11 lb	1
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.6 – 3.5	0.12 lb	1
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.7 – 3.4	0.44 lb	2
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.6 – 3.5	0.44 lb	2
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.4 (below normal)	0.7 – 3.4	0.45 lb	4

Bowfin

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1985-06-12	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.3	6.60 lb	2
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.3	6.20 lb	1
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.4 – 1.3	5.70 lb	6
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.9 (normal)	0.4 – 1.3	4.10 lb	8

Bluntnose Minnow

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.8	—	3
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	2.7	—	19
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	59.2	—	80
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	12.3	—	86
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	52.1	—	40
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	1.5	—	3

BKF

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.3	—	1
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	1.3	—	9
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	33.3	—	45
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	4.4	—	31
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	13.0	—	10
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	2.0	—	4

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.5	—	—	2
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	1.25 lb	3
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.3	1.24 lb	2
2010-06-07	Standard electrofishing	140.0	—	0.95 lb	136
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	3.6	—	—	25
2010-06-07	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	1.71 lb	4
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	19.3	—	—	26
2010-06-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.3	1.05 lb	3
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	7.8	—	—	6
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	3.9	—	—	27
2023-07-05	Standard electrofishing	87.4	—	0.95 lb	83
2023-07-05	Standard gill nets	1.7 (normal)	0.3 – 1.7	1.26 lb	10
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.9 (normal)	0.3 – 1.3	0.66 lb	8

Johnny Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-08	Survey seining	0.5	—	2
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	1.1	—	8
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	17.8	—	24
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	16.9	—	13
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	0.5	—	1
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	0.1	—	1

Common Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	0.07 lb	1
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	0.7	—	—	5

BNS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	0.7	—	5
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	20.0	—	27
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	1.6	—	11
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	2.6	—	2

Iowa Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	15-ft beach seine	0.3	—	2
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	5.9	—	8
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	0.5	—	1
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	1.4	—	10
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	7.8	—	6

BCS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	8.1	—	11
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	1.3	—	9

PGS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	4.4	—	6

LED

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	0.7	—	1
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	6.5	—	5
2023-08-04	15-ft beach seine	1.5	—	3
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	4.3	—	30

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	18.5	—	25
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	2.6	—	2

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2010-06-07	Backpack electrofishing	7.4	—	10
2023-08-04	Backpack electrofishing	2.6	—	2

Brook Trout

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2023-08-04	50-ft beach seine	21.0	—	147

GRR

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2023-07-05	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	4.03 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

66 Marine North

Crosslake, MN

(218) 692-6161

★ 4.3

66 marine north storage

Crosslake, MN

(218) 692-6161

Bay Lake Marine - Sales

Deerwood, MN

(218) 534-3435

★ 4.3

Bay Lake Marine-Service

Deerwood, MN

(218) 678-2096

★ 4.2

Bell Marine LLC

Merrifield, MN

(218) 821-0842

Boats and beyond - dock

Brainerd, MN

(218) 963-7700

★ 4.9

Resorts & Lodges Near Black Bear

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Black Bear.

Bay Colony Inn (A Gull Lake Beach Resorts Property)

Fishing Resort Nisswa

(218) 656-6965

Crosslake Cabin

Fishing Resort Crosslake

Crosslake Cabins

Fishing Resort Crosslake

Crosslake Vacations & Rentals

Fishing Resort Crosslake

(218) 656-0403

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Black Crappie Bluegill Bowfin (Dogfish)Brown Bullhead Greater Redhorse Green Sunfish Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed Rock Bass Tullibee (Cisco)Walleye Yellow Bullhead Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Black Bear

371 Outdoors (Ice Forts)

Fishing Guide

(218) 824-1722

Blong's Brainerd Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 825-8965

Brainerd Fishing Guides

(218) 829-7010

(218) 692-7368

(320) 345-7111

Let's Go Fishing Brd Lks Chapter

Fishing Guide

(218) 454-3474

View all 15 guides →

Other Lakes in Crow Wing County

Plan Your Trip to Black Bear

Weather forecast for Black Bear — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 46.5082°N, 94.0609°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.

Black Bear

Invasive Species Alert

DNR Fish Surveys

Black Bullhead

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Green Sunfish

Yellow Bullhead

Northern Pike

Rock Bass

Walleye

Hybrid Sunfish

Bluegill

Pumpkinseed

Tullibee (Cisco)

White Sucker

Black Crappie

Bowfin

Bluntnose Minnow

BKF

Largemouth Bass

Johnny Darter

Common Shiner

BNS

Iowa Darter

BCS

PGS

LED

CNM

Golden Shiner

Brook Trout

GRR

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Adventure To Go - Nisswa

Bertha Boatworks

Birch Island Outdoors

Brad Dwyer Outdoors

Crow Wing Kayaks

Dunham's Sports

Fish Lectronics of Nisswa

Fishy Gifts

Nearby Marinas

66 Marine North

66 marine north storage

Bay Lake Marine - Sales

Bay Lake Marine-Service

Bell Marine LLC

Boats and beyond - dock

Resorts & Lodges Near Black Bear

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Black Bear

Other Lakes in Crow Wing County

Adney

Agate

Allen

Ann

Anna

Arrowhead

Plan Your Trip to Black Bear