Bear Paw Lake
Oconto County, Wisconsin · WBIC 418000
Size
49 acres
Max depth
20 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
11 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2026
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
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1991), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
11 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 4, 2026. 179 readings on record, 1989 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 11.2 ft, clear, from 62 readings (2012 to 2026).
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 PAW LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Sep 3, 2025, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 10 (Apr 2 to Apr 20)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 19 (Apr 13 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 12 (May 9 to May 22)
- June surface72°F, usually 71 to 74°F
- July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface74°F, usually 72 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 7, lasting about 99 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 nigromaculatus2003 to 2006; 4 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1968 to 2006; 6 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2003; 1 record
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus2003 to 2006; 3 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1968 to 2006; 6 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2003 to 2006; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1968 to 2006; 6 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1968 to 2006; 6 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.
Boat landings
- 1Bear Paw Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Federal
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Oconto County
- Westphall Lake1.8 miles away
- Waupee Lake2.1 miles away
- Farr Lake2.2 miles away
- Sunrise Lake2.8 miles away
- Green Lake2.9 miles away
- Midget Lake3.5 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
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, 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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