10 miles north of Babbitt
St. Louis County, Minnesota · 47.7809° N, 91.9443° W
Directions to Bear Island Lake (S) Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access sites (3 listed; this is the first).
Updated 15 Oct 2026, 5:28 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
3 public access sites on Bear Island Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of Bear Island Lake in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 900,000 walleye fry. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 900,000 walleye fry.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Bear Island Lake was in August 2023: 12 gill nets and 15 trap nets caught 11 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in July 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2003 6.0 · 2008 5.7 · 2013 9.2 · 2018 4.5 · 2023 7.9
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 2003 17 · 2008 35 · 2013 22 · 2018 1.9 · 2023 11
Walleye: 99 measured, 7 to 27 in, half 13 in or longer; average 1.2 lb, normal (normal 0.7–1.3 lb).
Northern pike: 61 measured, 12 to 37 in, half 22 in or longer; average 3.2 lb, normal (normal 1.9–3.6 lb).
Smallmouth bass: 12 measured, 9 to 17 in, half 13 in or longer; average 1.5 lb, above normal (normal 0.5–1.3 lb).
Black crappie: 21 measured, 4 to 8 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.27 lb, normal (normal 0.2–0.7 lb).
Bluegill: 165 measured, 3 to 9 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.18 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Also caught: cisco species, hybrid sunfish, white sucker.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 7 Aug 2023, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 8 ft: the Secchi depth across 6 readings, 2008–2025.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Bear Island Lake is 62 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 2,362 acres.
Yes. 3 public access sites are listed: Bear Island Lake (S) Public Water Access Site; Bear Island Lake (NE) Public Water Access Site; Bear Island Lake (NE) Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 900,000 walleye fry.
Minnesota DNR’s August 2023 standard survey caught 11 species, most often bluegill, rock bass, walleye and northern pike.
About 85% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.