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Bear Lake
Enhanced dataHistorical depth chart
Bear LakePortage County, WI
Historical source depth chart available1 converted source DNR map sheet can be panned and zoomed in the browser. Interactive contours stay hidden until visual QA passes. Historical survey — not for navigation.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Bear Lake
Weather-based planning built from the National Weather Service hourly forecast near this lake.
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Checking wind, precipitation, and near-term weather windows.
Water temperature
Bear Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
75°FPeak summer
Seasonal estimate. Checking current National Weather Service air temperatures…
Warmest water of the year. Fish hold deeper or feed in low light; swimming and watersports are at their best.
Estimates are modeled, not measured. Actual temperatures vary with depth, wind mixing, and recent weather — verify conditions before swimming, boating, or heading onto ice.
DNR water check
Water quality quick take
From Wisconsin DNR / Citizen Lake Monitoring readings at Bear Lake - Center.
Sampled Jun 2026Volunteer monitoring since 2014
Clear water — summer clarity of 13.3 ft puts it among the clearest quarter of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August 2025 averages across 2 volunteer readings.Water claritySecchi disk depth
13.3 ftJul–Aug 2025 avg (2 readings)
Clear2014–2025
Clearer than 82% of 597 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
All readings by year · station details · methodology
Summer averages (July/August)
July/August means; counts in parentheses show how many samples went into each average.
| Year | Secchi | Chlorophyll-a | Total phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13.3 ft (2) | — | — |
| 2022 | 13.0 ft (2) | — | — |
| 2021 | 17.0 ft (1) | — | — |
| 2014 | 9.8 ft (4) | — | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 14.5 ft (2026-06-18).
Secchi clarity is how deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface — more feet means clearer water.
Chlorophyll-a is an algae pigment; higher values signal more algae in the water column.
Total phosphorus is a nutrient that feeds algae and aquatic plants. It is not a weed survey — depth, bottom type, water movement, and management change the actual lake experience.
Bear Lake - CenterStation 10040054
Modeled from DNR/CLMN monitoring — not a safety or swim-condition report. Verify current conditions locally. LakeList verified 2026-07-12.Official Wisconsin information
Plan with DNR sources
LakeList links to the authoritative record so you can verify maps, rules, and current notices before leaving.
Historical DNR depth maps1 converted map sheetFishing regulationsVerify current seasons, limits, and restrictionsOfficial DNR lake pageFacts, advisories, boating, and water qualityWater quality reportsMonitoring stations, clarity, and DNR reportsInvasive speciesVerified, observed, and historical AIS recordsBoating ordinancesLocal slow-no-wake and water-use restrictionsFish consumption advisoriesStatewide and waterbody-specific health guidance
Historical depth maps are not for navigation. Verify regulations and access at the official source before your trip.
Historical Wisconsin DNR maps
Bear Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Bear Lake · sheet 1
Pan, zoom, and inspect the converted Wisconsin DNR historical map image in the browser. Historical survey — not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin DNR · WBIC 181900 · image navigation only; spatial alignment pending · Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Converted for browser access with source URLs, checksums, and retrieval dates retained. Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
29surface acres
28max depth feet
1public access points
44.4353, -89.3942latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchAccess44.43596, -89.39243Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
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Fishery
Notable species
Largemouth BassPanfish
Depth FAQ
How deep is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake is 28 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 7 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Bear Lake?
Yes. 1 scanned Wisconsin DNR lake survey map sheet is free to view and zoom on LakeList. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Where does the Bear Lake depth map come from?
The map sheets are converted from official Wisconsin DNR lake survey documents, with the source URL, checksum, and retrieval date retained for every sheet. Historical surveys are not for navigation.
Trust and freshness
Where this lake data comes from
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pagesname, coordinates, county, source identifiers
LakeList record updated 2026-05-25
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