Coldwater Lake Fishing
A 1,582-acre Michigan lake in Branch County.
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Coldwater Lake: size, place and fish
Branch County holds Coldwater Lake, a lake of 1,582 acres. The nearest Census place is Coldwater, roughly 9 miles from the shore point. Management unit: Southern Lake Michigan; peninsula: Lower Peninsula. Its water heads toward the Southeastern Lake Michigan basin, in the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains ecoregion.
MDNR records name spotted gar, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and smallmouth bass. You can launch at 1 public launch. A 2023 satellite estimate shows about 7 feet of visibility. MDNR flags it as a Family Friendly Fishing spot.
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Each fish below has an MDNR record tied to Coldwater Lake.
How often surveys found each fish at Coldwater Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Spotted gar | 1 | 1994 |
| Lake herring | 2 | 1927 to 1967 |
| Yellow perch | 4 | 1927 |
| Blacknose shiner | 2 | 1927 |
| Bluegill | 2 | 1927 |
| Largemouth bass | 2 | 1927 |
| Pumpkinseed | 2 | 1927 |
| Yellow bullhead | 2 | 1927 |
| Black crappie | 1 | 1927 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 1 | 1927 |
| Brook silverside | 1 | 1927 |
| Brown bullhead | 1 | 1927 |
| Iowa darter | 1 | 1927 |
| Longnose gar | 1 | 1927 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launch sites at Coldwater Lake
- Coldwater Lake Boat Access2 lanes, 61 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Jackson Field Office
Fishing sites along Coldwater Lake
- Coldwater Lake fishing site, Coldwaterbank fishing area, Dawn until dusk
Ramps within reach of Coldwater Lake
- Silver Lake Boat Access near MontgomerySilver Lake, 3 miles southwest
- Loon Lake Channel Boat AccessWright Lake, 4 miles northeast
- Lake of the Woods Boat Access near ColdwaterLake of the Woods, 4 miles northwest
- Lake George Boat Access near MontgomeryLake George, 4 miles southwest
- Lake Lavine Boat AccessLake Lavine, 5 miles southwest
- Middle Lake Boat Access near QuincyMiddle Lake, 6 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
The color and clarity of Coldwater Lake
EGLE derives the Coldwater Lake readings from Landsat, July through September.
Algae, measured as chlorophyll a, ran 7.01 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.
Season dates at Coldwater Lake
| 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 |
The table gives the statewide inland limits Coldwater Lake falls under on the Lower Peninsula.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
MDNR plants at Coldwater Lake
Between 2024 and 2025, 2 recorded plants put 4,500 fish into Coldwater Lake; walleye lead the list.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 6, 2025 | Walleye | 17.8 in | 2,000 | |
| November 6, 2024 | Walleye | 17.8 in | 2,500 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Coldwater Lake compared with close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldwater Lake | 1,582 | 1 | 7 | 9 | |
| East Long Lake | 2 miles north | 123 | 0 | 5.7 | 1 |
| Huyck Lake, Branch County | 3 miles south | 193 | 0 | 11.4 | 13 |
| Silver Lake, Branch County | 3 miles south | 208 | 1 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Lake of The Woods | 4 miles northwest | 334 | 1 | 7.2 | 1 |
| George lake, Branch County | 5 miles south | 535 | 1 | 10.7 | 1 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
A short drive from Coldwater Lake
Lakes in the same corner as Coldwater Lake
- East Long Lake2 miles north
- Huyck Lake, Branch County3 miles south
- Silver Lake, Branch County3 miles south
- Lake of The Woods4 miles northwest
- George lake, Branch County5 miles south
Shops to stop at on the way to Coldwater Lake
- Coldwater Lake Marinamarina, Coldwater, under a mile
- Hutch's Marinemarina, Coldwater, 1 mile
- Fish Gaff by Sunset Paradise Marketingbait and tackle shop, Coldwater, 4 miles
- Hildebrands Marinemarina, Coldwater, 4 miles
- Heinemann Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Coldwater, 7 miles
- Marv's Hemlock Party & Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Reading, 11 miles
Base camps for Coldwater Lake
- Coldwater9 miles
- Montgomery9 miles
- Quincy10 miles
Counties that Coldwater Lake spans
- Branch Countyseat: Coldwater
Piscifun gear picked for Coldwater Lake
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Species to expect at Coldwater Lake
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Things to settle before fishing Coldwater Lake
Which part of Michigan holds Coldwater Lake?
Its shore is in Branch County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 9 miles from Coldwater.
What size is Coldwater Lake?
1,582 acres of surface water.
Does Coldwater Lake have a public boat launch?
MDNR maps 1 public launch; Coldwater Lake Boat Access is a good start.
What swims in Coldwater Lake?
spotted gar, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass and sunfish, per MDNR records.
Which MDNR rules govern Coldwater Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Can a visitor fish Coldwater Lake on a Michigan license?
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.
Does Coldwater Lake run clear or murky?
Summer 2023 imagery: about 7 feet.
Who sells bait nearest Coldwater Lake?
Coldwater Lake Marina sits under a mile from the lake.
Is Coldwater Lake stocked?
In 2025 the MDNR planted 2,000 walleye.
Pick a weekend for Coldwater Lake
The license page holds every Michigan fee and season.