Little Bear Lake, Otsego County, MI: Depth Map, Fishing & Water Quality

Where it is

15 miles southeast of Gaylord

Otsego County, Michigan · 44.9343° N, 84.4030° W

Show on Google Maps

The Michigan DNR lists no public access site on Little Bear Lake; much of the shore may be private.

Today on the lake

Updated 10 Oct 2026, 12:16 am EDT. Get alerts for Little Bear Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 42°F, wind SE 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: sunny, 75°F, wind S 10 to 15 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.

ALGAEToo small for satellite monitoring (under 1 km²). No bloom reports on record with Michigan DHHS.

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

6 contours, 5 to 30 ft

051015202530feet

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

Size and depth

110 acres · deepest 30 ft (measured) · shoreline about 2.2 mi · clarity about 17 ft

Little Bear Lake is the 10th largest of the 92 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Otsego County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 19th deepest of the 41 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 75 of the other 80 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 2.2 miles along the state outline. About 55% of its area is deeper than 15 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

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Little Bear Lake 17 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 500 black crappie on 21 October 2015. Species stocked: black crappie, rainbow trout, tiger muskellunge, walleye, yellow perch.

17 stockings, 1979 to 2015, log scale

Latest: 21 Oct 2015: 1,000 walleye.

21 Oct 2015STOCKED500 black crappie

21 Oct 2015STOCKED1,000 walleye

8 Oct 1991STOCKED700 tiger muskellunge

14 Sep 1989STOCKED630 tiger muskellunge

27 Jun 1988STOCKED1,000 walleye

9 Oct 1987STOCKED550 tiger 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

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 17 ft (Secchi depth 5.2 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 17.1 ft of 30 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

The area around Little Bear Lake

114 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 15 miles of Little Bear Lake, 10 with a page here (darker blue). Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Duck Lake10 ft deep · 0.6 mi · Otsego County

Big Bear Lake36 ft deep · 1.2 mi · Otsego County

Caulkins Lake40 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Otsego County

Douglas Lake36 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Otsego County

Gee Lake15 ft deep · 2.7 mi · Montmorency County

Crystal Lake15 ft deep · 2.8 mi · Montmorency County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Little Bear Lake?

Little Bear Lake is 30 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 110 acres.

Is Little Bear Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 17 times since 1979, most recently 500 black crappie on 21 October 2015.

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

About 67% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.