Big Bear Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2705700
Size
189 acres
Max depth
17 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
10 ft
Clear, measured Jul 2024
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 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
10 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Jul 31, 2024. 145 readings on record, 1995 to 2024.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 10 ft, clear, from 16 readings (2012 to 2024).
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 BIG BEAR LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Jul 31, 2024, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 17 (Apr 8 to Apr 25)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 22 (Apr 18 to May 2)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 20 (May 13 to May 25)
- June surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
- July surface78°F, usually 77 to 79°F
- August surface73°F, usually 73 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 5, lasting about 44 days.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1967; 5 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1967; 5 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus1967; 1 record
- Bowfin Amia calva1967; 1 record
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus1967; 4 records
- Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus1967; 1 record
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas1967; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1967; 5 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1967; 5 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1967; 4 records
- Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius1967; 1 record
- Walleye Sander vitreus1967; 2 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1967; 2 records
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Burnett County
- Sanks Lake1.3 miles away
- Thatcher Lake1.4 miles away
- Ferry Lake1.4 miles away
- Myrick Lake1.4 miles away
- Webb Lake1.6 miles away
- Fawn Lake1.7 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
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, 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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