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Bear Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Bear LakeWaupaca County, WI
Contours load with map Access
Interactive depth contours5-foot typical interval · Sonar-derived depth (C-MAP Genesis) · Gaps interpolated · Not for navigation
Source: C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived)high confidence · QA passed · Select a contour to inspect its mapped depthDepths decoded from C-MAP Genesis Social Map community sonar recordings (used with permission), covering 59% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 62-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
Plan your lake day
Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Bear Lake.
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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.
72°FWarm
Seasonal estimate. Checking current National Weather Service air temperatures…
Comfortable summer pattern. Bass and panfish are active; early and late hours beat the midday heat.
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 - Deepest Point.
Sampled Sep 2025Volunteer monitoring since 1990
Clear, low-algae water — summer clarity of 14 ft puts it among the clearest quarter of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August volunteer averages from 2024–2025; each value shows its own year.42Mesotrophic5-yr summer TSI
Moderately clear with moderate nutrients — a typical profile for good swimming lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
14 ftJul–Aug 2025 avg (5 readings)
ClearImproving — up ~49% vs earlier years
Clearer than 83% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
3 µg/LJul–Aug 2024 avg (2 readings)
LowNutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
13 µg/LLatest single sample · 2024-09-04
LowLow phosphorus means light plant/algae growth pressure.
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 | 14.0 ft (5) | — | — |
| 2024 | 19.9 ft (12) | 3.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2023 | 14.3 ft (3) | 3.5 µg/L (2) | 19.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2022 | 10.9 ft (5) | — | — |
| 2021 | 10.8 ft (4) | — | — |
| 2019 | 10.6 ft (7) | — | — |
| 2018 | 10.1 ft (8) | — | — |
| 2017 | 10.0 ft (6) | — | — |
| 2016 | 10.1 ft (8) | — | — |
| 2015 | 10.4 ft (5) | — | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 15 ft (2025-09-02), chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L (2024-09-04), and total phosphorus 13 µg/L (2024-09-04).
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 - Deepest PointStation 693041 · TSI based on Secchi
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 sheetView DNR depth mapHistorical map · not for navigationFishing 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 279700 · 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.
Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey
Fish population survey
Structured LakeList extraction from the 2021 DNR fisheries survey. Population estimates, density, and catch-rate indices use different units, methods, and scopes, so each value is presented in its original form rather than normalized against a different measure.
Survey indicatorsValues keep their source unit and method; unlike measures are not scaled or compared.
Management contextThe reviewed metrics apply only to Bear Lake (WBIC 279700) and retain the report's gear, threshold and sample scope.
Human-reviewed, page-evidenced 2021 fisheries metrics for Bear Lake (WBIC 279700).
- Historical fisheries snapshot; not current fishing regulations or navigation guidance.
- Only metrics explicitly supported by the cited source page were promoted.
- Relative-abundance indices, population estimates, gear limitations and size thresholds retain source scope.
Black Crappie
4 fish2021 target survey catch · p. 12.7 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE · p. 10.7 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE for fish at least 8.0 inches · p. 133 fishFish measured in 2021 spring fyke netting · p. 4
Bluegill
251 fish2021 target survey catch · p. 1167.3 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE · p. 16 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE for fish at least 7.0 inches · p. 1251 fishFish measured in 2021 spring electrofishing · p. 5
Largemouth Bass
184 fish2021 target survey catch · p. 155.1 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE · p. 110.2 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE for fish at least 14.0 inches · p. 1184 fishFish measured in 2021 spring electrofishing · p. 3
Northern Pike
79 fish2021 target survey catch · p. 10.7 fish/net night2021 target survey CPUE · p. 10.2 fish/net night2021 target survey CPUE for fish at least 21.0 inches · p. 172 fishFish measured in 2021 spring fyke netting · p. 2
Pumpkinseed
41 fish2021 target survey catch · p. 127.3 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE · p. 10.7 fish/mile2021 target survey CPUE for fish at least 7.0 inches · p. 1
Bear Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Matched by exact wbic name county · WBICs 279700 · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this public report with source attribution.
200surface acres
62max depth feet
1public access points
44.4130, -88.9428latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchBear Lake Access44.40665, -88.94614Managed by TOWNSHIPTOWN OF ROYALTONRamp surface: Concrete PlankADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
Largemouth BassNorthern PikePanfish
Depth FAQ
How deep is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake is 62 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 24 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Bear Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Bear Lake at a typical 5-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived) survey data.
Where does the Bear Lake depth map come from?
The interactive depth contours are derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived). Each contour set passes a visual QA review against the source document before it is published. The depths are derived from community sonar recordings (C-MAP Genesis Social Map, used with permission), with gaps between recordings interpolated; not for navigation.
Trust and freshness
Where this lake data comes from
Wisconsin DNR Lake Mapsname, coordinates, county, source identifiers
LakeList record updated 2026-07-12
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