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Green Sunfish
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain 
Pumpkinseed
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0 
Brown Bullhead
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 
White Bass
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Michigan inland lakes
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Ford Lake, Washtenaw County Fishing
A 958-acre Michigan lake in Washtenaw County.
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Washtenaw County
A first look at Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
Ford Lake, Washtenaw County spreads across 958 acres in Washtenaw County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 2 miles separates Ford Lake, Washtenaw County from Ypsilanti. On the Lower Peninsula, it belongs to the Lake Erie Management Unit. Ecoregion Huron/Erie Lake Plains; basin Western Lake Erie.
Species found since 1970 include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, fathead minnow, golden shiner and green sunfish. The shore holds 1 public launch. EGLE satellite clarity: about 4.6 feet (2023). The MDNR names it a Family Friendly Fishing water.
958acres
1public launches
4.6 ftsatellite clarity
22fish on record
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Species anglers find in Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
MDNR sources behind the Ford Lake, Washtenaw County list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Black bullhead Black crappie Bluegill Fathead minnow Golden shiner Green sunfish Largemouth bass Pumpkinseed Rock bass Smallmouth bass Spottail shiner Walleye White sucker Yellow bullhead Yellow perch Bullhead Common carp Catfish Crappie Northern pike Sunfish White bass
Survey history for Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Black bullhead | 12 | 1973 |
| Black crappie | 2 | 1973 |
| Golden shiner | 2 | 1973 |
| Pumpkinseed | 2 | 1973 |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | 1973 |
| Spottail shiner | 2 | 1973 |
| White sucker | 2 | 1973 |
| Yellow bullhead | 2 | 1973 |
| Bluegill | 1 | 1973 |
| Fathead minnow | 1 | 1973 |
| Green sunfish | 1 | 1973 |
| Largemouth bass | 1 | 1973 |
| Rock bass | 1 | 1973 |
| Walleye | 1 | 1973 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launches
Public launches on Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Ford Lake Boat Access near Ypsilanti4 lanes, courtesy pier; Ypsilanti Township
Shore and pier access at Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Ford Lake fishing site, Ypsilantifishing pier, Dawn until dusk, pier
Launch sites a short tow from Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Belleville Lake West Boat AccessBelleville Lake, 3 miles east
- Belleville Lake East Boat AccessBelleville Lake, 6 miles east
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
How clear Ford Lake, Washtenaw County runs
The Ford Lake, Washtenaw County clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 19.32 micrograms per liter.
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.
Regulations
Harvest rules on Ford Lake, Washtenaw 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 |
These are the Lower Peninsula inland rows that cover Ford Lake, Washtenaw County.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Compare
Sizing up Ford Lake, Washtenaw County against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Lake, Washtenaw County | 958 | 1 | 4.6 | 22 | |
| Belleville Lake | 3 miles east | 1,254 | 2 | 4 | 18 |
| Huron River near Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, 54 acres | 3 miles northwest | 54 | 0 | 7.3 | 17 |
| Huron River near Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, 100 acres | 5 miles northwest | 100 | 0 | 7.6 | 2 |
| Geddes Pond | 6 miles northwest | 195 | 0 | 9.1 | 10 |
| Barton Pond | 11 miles northwest | 192 | 0 | 9.1 | 1 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
Close by Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
Neighboring lakes to Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Belleville Lake3 miles east
- Huron River near Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, 54 acres3 miles northwest
- Huron River near Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, 100 acres5 miles northwest
- Geddes Pond6 miles northwest
- Barton Pond11 miles northwest
Live bait and lures near Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Bass N Sportbait and tackle shop, Ypsilanti, 2 miles
- Schultz Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Ypsilanti, 2 miles
- Kathy Hourihanmarina, Superior Charter Township, 4 miles
- Fish On Bait & Tackle, 885 Sumpter Rdbait and tackle shop, Belleville, 6 miles
- Marty's Fishon Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Van Buren Twp, 6 miles
- Sandy's Marinabait and tackle shop, Belleville, 8 miles
Guided trips on Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Charters by Gregcharter, Belleville, (734) 796-4948
- Michigan Guide Inccharter, Novi, (248) 305-7337
- Net Dreams Fishing Charterscharter, Monroe, (734) 730-1272
- Wilderness Journey- BWCA Guide & Outfitterfishing guide, Novi, (734) 664-0353
Overnight stops close to Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
- Ypsilanti2 miles
- Belleville6 miles
- Ann Arbor8 miles
Where Ford Lake, Washtenaw County sits by county
- Washtenaw Countyseat: Ann Arbor
Piscifun
A Piscifun setup for a day on Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
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Fish ID
Fish an angler meets at Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Answers
Ford Lake, Washtenaw County questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
Find it in Washtenaw County, Lake Erie Management Unit, about 2 miles from Ypsilanti.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
About 958 acres.
How many public launches reach Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
1 public launch; Ford Lake Boat Access near Ypsilanti is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
Records show black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, fathead minnow, golden shiner, green sunfish and largemouth bass.
Which limits apply on Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Ford Lake, Washtenaw 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.
How deep does sunlight reach in Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
EGLE estimated 4.6 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Ford Lake, Washtenaw County?
Try Bass N Sport, roughly 2 miles off.
Haul the boat to Ford Lake, Washtenaw County
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.