28 public waters in the Northern Lower Peninsula region — 12 lakes/reservoirs and 16 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Michigan licence.
See every public fishing venue in Michigan on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Lake Mitchell, a 2,644-acre lake in Wexford County, Michigan, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access): A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Wexford and Manistee Counties, Michigan — Hodenpyl Dam Pond is a 1,793-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access): A Michigan impoundment or flowage (the Au Sable River flowages, Fletcher's Pond, Lake Hudson, the Manistee and Muskegon river reservoirs, the Menominee and Michigamme flowages) — Walleye, Northern Pike, smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Crappie, Bluegill and Catfish. Stump-and-weed water with fluctuating levels.
In Wexford County, Michigan, Lake Cadillac is a 1,160-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access). A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Pleasant Lake (129 acres) sits in Wexford County, Michigan, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access). A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Lake Gitchegumee, a 102-acre lake in Wexford County, Michigan, managed by State Department of Natural Resources: A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Meauwataka Lake (86 acres) sits in Wexford County, Michigan, managed by Forest Service. A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
In Wexford County, Michigan, Stone Ledge Lake is a 84-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access). A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Berry Lake (68 acres) sits in Wexford County, Michigan, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access). A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Wexford County, Michigan — Woodward Lake is a 56-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Wexford County, Michigan — Lake Billings is a 20-acre lake, managed by City Land: A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Wexford County, Michigan — Grassy Lakes is a 8-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access): A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
Wexford County, Michigan — Carp Lake is a 5-acre lake, managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (public boating access): A northern-Michigan inland lake — cool, clear glacial water. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Muskellunge or Cisco in the bigger and deeper ones. Most have a DNR or township boating access site; many have a slot or minimum on bass and Walleye.
The Manistee River — the upper river above Tippy Dam is a blue-ribbon wild-Trout fishery (browns, brookies, stocked rainbows), the CCC Bridge to Sharon stretch a classic float. Below Tippy Dam the lower Manistee is one of the best salmon and Steelhead rivers in the state, running huge numbers of Chinook, coho and Steelhead up to the dam.
Missaukee, Clare and Wexford Counties, Michigan — Clam River is a 52 km stream: A Michigan Blue Ribbon Trout stream — the state's best cold-water rivers for wild and stocked brown, brook and Rainbow Trout, with special regulations (flies-only, artificial-only, no-kill or trophy sections). The Au Sable Holy Water, the upper Manistee, the Pere Marquette flies-only, the South Branch, the Sturgeon, and the UP's Fox, Escanaba and Two Hearted.
Slagle Creek (18 km) flows through Wexford and Manistee Counties, Michigan. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Wexford and Grand Traverse Counties, Michigan, Fletcher Creek is a 12 km river or creek. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Peterson Creek (12 km) flows through Wexford and Manistee Counties, Michigan. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Manton Creek runs 12 km through Wexford County, Michigan: A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Missaukee and Wexford Counties, Michigan, Morrisy Creek is a 13 km river or creek. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Wexford and Lake Counties, Michigan — Poplar Creek is a 11 km stream: A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Adams Creek (11 km) flows through Wexford County, Michigan. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Fife Lake Outlet River (11 km) flows through Grand Traverse, Wexford and Kalkaska Counties, Michigan. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Hinton Creek runs 10 km through Wexford and Manistee Counties, Michigan: A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Wexford County, Michigan — Smail Creek is a 9 km stream: A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Cole Creek (10 km) flows through Wexford County, Michigan. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Wheeler Creek runs 9 km through Wexford and Grand Traverse Counties, Michigan: A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Wexford and Osceola Counties, Michigan, Fairchild Creek is a 8 km river or creek. A warmwater Michigan river (the Kalamazoo, Huron, Raisin, Shiawassee, Cass, Flint, Thornapple, Rogue, Looking Glass, Red Cedar) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Bluegill, channel and Flathead Catfish, and Crappie in the slow water. Wade or float; access at DNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Pine River runs 89 km through Lake, Manistee, Wexford and 1 more county in Michigan: A Michigan Blue Ribbon Trout stream — the state's best cold-water rivers for wild and stocked brown, brook and Rainbow Trout, with special regulations (flies-only, artificial-only, no-kill or trophy sections). The Au Sable Holy Water, the upper Manistee, the Pere Marquette flies-only, the South Branch, the Sturgeon, and the UP's Fox, Escanaba and Two Hearted.
Across its mapped waters, Wexford County holds 22 species on PiscaMaps, including Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish and Rock Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Michigan map Join PiscaMapsOne Michigan DNR all-species fishing licence covers every public water in the state, trout and salmon included — the resident annual is about $26, the non-resident annual about $76, with 1-day and 3-day licences sold. Michigan folded the old trout/salmon stamp into this base licence in 2014, so there is no separate stamp for inland trout or the Great Lakes salmon fishery. Michigan residents 65 and older buy a reduced senior licence, and anglers under 17 fish free. Buy at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.