Bear Island Lake is a popular fishing spot in Northern Minnesota, known for its abundance of walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and crappies. Nearby activities include hiking, camping, and boating on the lake. Fishing tips include using live bait and fishing in the deeper parts of the lake. The best time to visit is from late spring to early fall when the weather is mild, with an average temperature of around 60-70°F.
It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.
Camping Area | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers |
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Thomas Hill Reservoir - Hwy T Campground - MDC | 10 | |||
Rothwell Park | ||||
Finger Lakes State Park | ||||
Graham Cave State Park | ||||
Katy Roundhouse Campground | ||||
Frank Russell | ||||
Shelbina Lake City Park | ||||
Ray Behrens | ||||
Mark Twain State Park | ||||
Lakeview Park - Mexico |