Bear Lake
Bayfield County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2901800
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (White River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
Size
32 acres
Max depth
18 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
2 ft
Low, measured Sep 2025
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1990), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
2 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Sep 9, 2025. 5 readings on record, 2000 to 2025.
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station BEAR LAKE - BEAR LAKE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Sep 9, 2025, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
More lakes in Bayfield County
- Phantom Lake0.4 miles away
- Lester Lake0.6 miles away
- Swede Lake0.7 miles away
- Getsey Lake0.7 miles away
- Mud Flat Lake0.8 miles away
- Toothpick Lake0.8 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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