Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a 75-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin, up to 20 feet deep, with 27 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include musky, panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike. It has public land or a park on the shore.
- Size: 75 acres
- Deepest point: 20 ft
- Bottom: 95% muck, 2% sand, 2% gravel, 1% rock
- Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike
- Public access: public land or a park on the shore
- Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
- Local boating ordinances on record: water-skiing rules
- Drive time without traffic: Green Bay 1 hr 35 min, Appleton 1 hr 55 min, Milwaukee 3 hr 15 min, Eau Claire 3 hr 25 min, Waukesha 3 hr 30 min, Madison 3 hr 40 min, Twin Cities 4 hr 30 min, Rockford 4 hr 35 min, Chicago 4 hr 45 min
- Invasive species on record: Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail
- Waterfront parcels: 27 waterfront parcels
Questions about Bear Lake
How many waterfront properties are on Bear Lake?
27 waterfront parcels front Bear Lake in Oconto County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.
How big is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake covers 75 acres in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
How deep is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake is 20 feet deep at its deepest point.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
The Wisconsin DNR lists musky, panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike in Bear Lake.
Is there public access to Bear Lake?
Yes. Bear Lake has public land or a park on the shore.
Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Bear Lake?
Bear Lake is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include water-skiing rules; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.
How long is the drive to Bear Lake?
By car, Bear Lake is about 1 hr 35 min from Green Bay, 1 hr 55 min from Appleton, 3 hr 15 min from Milwaukee, 4 hr 30 min from the Twin Cities and 4 hr 45 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.
What is the bottom of Bear Lake like?
The lake bottom is 95% muck, 2% sand, 2% gravel, 1% rock, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.