Center Lake, Jackson County Fishing
A 848-acre Michigan lake in Jackson County.
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Meet Center Lake, Jackson County
Plan on 848 acres of open lake at Center Lake, Jackson County in Jackson County. Michigan Center is the closest town on the Census list, around 1 mile away. The MDNR handles it from the Southern Lake Michigan unit; it is a Lower Peninsula water. The lake lies in the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains ecoregion and the Southeastern Lake Michigan basin.
MDNR access data map 2 public launches. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 6.6 feet in 2023.
Ramps serving Center Lake, Jackson County
- Center Lake Boat Access1 lane, 30 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Jackson Field Office
- Leoni Township Parkboat ramp; Leoni Township
More launches around Center Lake, Jackson County
- Gilletts Lake Boat AccessGilletts Lake, 3 miles north
- Portage Lake Boat Access near Grass LakePortage Lake, 9 miles northeast
- Crispell Lake Boat AccessCrispell Lake, 10 miles southwest
- Maple Grove Bridge Boat AccessGrand River, 10 miles northwest
- Pine Hill Lake Boat AccessPine Hills Lake, 12 miles southwest
- One Mile Lake Boat AccessOne Mile Lake, 12 miles south
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Water clarity at Center Lake, Jackson County
Satellite Secchi depth for Center Lake, Jackson County comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 9.66 micrograms per liter in 2023.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Keeper rules posted for Center Lake, Jackson County
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
Center Lake, Jackson County follows the statewide inland table for the Lower Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
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MDNR tournament registrations and published winners for Center Lake, Jackson County sit on one page.
Center Lake, Jackson County next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Lake, Jackson County | 848 | 2 | 6.6 | 0 | |
| Gilletts Lake | 4 miles north | 334 | 1 | 5.1 | 1 |
| Wolf Lake, Jackson County | 4 miles east | 398 | 1 | 6.4 | 1 |
| Stony Lake, Jackson County | 4 miles south | 225 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Vandercook Lake | 5 miles west | 147 | 0 | 9.4 | 1 |
| Grass Lake, Jackson County | 6 miles northeast | 353 | 1 | 5.5 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Near Center Lake, Jackson County
Nearby inland lakes for a Center Lake, Jackson County trip
- Gilletts Lake4 miles north
- Wolf Lake, Jackson County4 miles east
- Stony Lake, Jackson County4 miles south
- Vandercook Lake5 miles west
- Grass Lake, Jackson County6 miles northeast
Tackle stores within a drive of Center Lake, Jackson County
- The Minnow Bucketbait and tackle shop, Jackson, 4 miles
- Lock & Key Storagemarina, Napoleon, 5 miles
- Eagle Point Marina & Boat Clubmarina, Clarklake, 7 miles
- Vineyard Lake Marina IImarina, Brooklyn, 9 miles
- Talkin' Tacklebait and tackle shop, Jackson, 11 miles
- Docksidesupply.Commarina, Onsted, 13 miles
Hiring a guide for Center Lake, Jackson County
- Murphys Fish Taxidermyfishing guide, Howell, (517) 548-6857
Places to stay around Center Lake, Jackson County
- Michigan Center1 mile
- Vandercook Lake4 miles
- Jackson5 miles
County fishing pages for Center Lake, Jackson County
- Jackson Countyseat: Jackson
Piscifun reels worth packing for Center Lake, Jackson County
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Lakes and streams near Center Lake, Jackson County, pictured
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Aenet, CC BY 4.0
The usual questions about Center Lake, Jackson County
How far is Center Lake, Jackson County from a Michigan town?
It lies in Jackson County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 1 mile from Michigan Center.
How large is Center Lake, Jackson County?
848 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Center Lake, Jackson County?
There are 2 public launches; Center Lake Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Center Lake, Jackson County?
No MDNR species list is published.
What are the keeper rules for Center Lake, Jackson County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Which Michigan license covers Center Lake, Jackson County?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Is Center Lake, Jackson County a clear lake?
Roughly 6.6 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Center Lake, Jackson County anglers pick up worms?
The Minnow Bucket, about 4 miles away.
Put Center Lake, Jackson County on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.