Otsego County · Michigan

Big Bear Lake

Soundings in feet · 344 acres · deepest 36 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:04 am EDT. Get alerts for Big Bear Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 37°F, wind SW 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 61°F, wind W 5 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 3 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESBig Bear Point State Forest Campground: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

8 contours, 5 to 36 ft

0510152025303536feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

344 acres · deepest 36 ft (measured) · shoreline about 3.7 mi · clarity about 16 ft

Big Bear Lake is the 2nd largest of the 92 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Otsego County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 13th deepest of the 41 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 67 of the other 80 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 3.7 miles along the state outline. About 35% of its area is deeper than 20 ft.

Ranks against Otsego County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Big Bear Lake.

Big Bear Point State Forest Campground · Otsego Lake State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Otsego County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Big Bear Lake 31 times since 1980. The most recent stocking was 19,135 walleye on 10 June 2025. Species stocked: muskellunge, tiger muskellunge, walleye.

31 stockings, 1980 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 10 Jun 2025: 19,135 walleye.

10 Jun 2025STOCKED19,135 walleye

7 Jun 2023STOCKED21,307 walleye

16 Jun 2021STOCKED20,727 walleye

11 Jun 2018STOCKED35,000 walleye

7 Jun 2016STOCKED20,000 walleye

15 Oct 2014STOCKED434 muskellunge

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1925: bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 16 ft (Secchi depth 4.8 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 15.6 ft of 36 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Big Bear LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Big Bear Lake 31 times since 1980, most recently 19,135 walleye on 10 June 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Otsego CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 7 emails.

Big Bear Lake has had no stockings or algae records in 2026, so its own alerts would have sent nothing this year. The county alert is on by default.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Little Bear Lake30 ft deep · 0.7 mi · Otsego County

Duck Lake10 ft deep · 1.2 mi · Otsego County

Crystal Lake15 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Montmorency County

Gee Lake15 ft deep · 2.6 mi · Montmorency County

Caulkins Lake40 ft deep · 2.7 mi · Otsego County

Spectacle Lake (Middle50 ft deep · 2.9 mi · Montmorency County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Big Bear Lake?

Big Bear Lake is 36 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 344 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Big Bear Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Big Bear Point State Forest Campground.

Is Big Bear Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 31 times since 1980, most recently 19,135 walleye on 10 June 2025.

How much of Big Bear Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 74% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.