|
Bear Creek Reservoir, a 205 acre flood control reservoir, is one of three waters within Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park. Bear Creek Park offers almost 2,600 acres of land with 15 miles of dirt trails for both hiking and biking. There are 50 picnic tables and group picnic areas in the park for day use and also 50 camping sites. Other activities include swimming, boating, hiking, horseback riding, birding, wildlife viewing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, wind surfing, and the list is nearly endless.
The park is open all year round. Boating is limited to 10HP at Bear Creek Reservoir. When conditions permit ice fishing is permitted, as is shore fishing. While well known for its abundant smallmouth, anglers can also expect to encounter rainbow trout, which are stocked once or twice a month, May through September, and saugeye. Other species inhabiting these waters include yellow perch, walleye, and for those looking for a challenge the elusive tiger muskie.
Hours of Operation
May through 1st week September: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
Then 6am to 8pm through the end of September
April and October: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
November through March: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
2008 CDOW Fish Surveys Results
Annual surveys here include the use of gill nets and boat electrofishing. The 2008 results show that smallmouth bass comprised the majority (41%) of the sample, followed by saugeye (19%), white sucker (16%), and then rainbow trout (9%). Species in the “other” (7%) category included brown trout, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and bluegill.
Saugeye up to 24” and brown trout up to almost 20”were collected in 2008. These two species grow well on a diet of gizzard shad and white suckers. Brown trout are not stocked in the reservoir, but come in from Bear Creek, which has a self-sustaining population. Once in the lake the brown trout have ample food to grow to larger sizes than in the stream. Smallmouth bass are very abundant in Bear Creek Reservoir, and fish up to 16” were collected in 2008.
Getting there: From C-470 take the Morrison Road exit. Go east on Morrison Road to the park entrance on the south side.
Fees: Annual passes:
General Pass: $45
Senior Pass: $35
Mulitple Pass: $10
General Daily Pass - $5.00
Senior Daily Pass - $4.00
Camping - $18.00
Senior Camping - $17
Boating: HP Restricted. Boating is limited to 10HP engines.
Boat inspections began May 1 from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week. The inspection station, located at the Whitetail parking lot on the road to the Bear Creek boat ramp, will be staffed from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Monday through Thursday the station will be staffed from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, boaters will be inspected at the entrance station. No watercraft will be allowed access after 8 p.m. Bear Creek will be closed to trailered watercraft from November 15 – March 15 annually.
Ice Fishing: Ice fishing allowed |
