Bear Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2452200
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Balsam Branch-Apple River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
Size
160 acres
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
2.8 ft
Low, measured Aug 2001
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 1978), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
2.8 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading
Last measured Aug 7, 2001. 1 reading on record, 2001.
Only one reading is on record.
Nothing has been measured in the last 5 years, so this may not match the lake today.
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.
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.
Stocking history
- White Suckerlast stocked 2020 (fry); stocked in 1 year since 2010
Stocking shows what was added to the lake, not what is in it now.
Wisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas2005; 1 record
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus2005; 3 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2005; 1 record
- Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas2005; 2 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1990; 1 record
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1990; 1 record
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2005; 3 records
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1990; 1 record
- Walleye Sander vitreus1990; 1 record
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 Polk County
- Basswood Lake2.0 miles away
- Sand Lake2.2 miles away
- Mud Lake2.3 miles away
- Deer Lake2.5 miles away
- Pine Lake2.6 miles away
- Poplar Lake4.0 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
- Stocking historyWisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary, 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
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, 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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