.sf-mi{–ink:#1C1A12;–deep:#6B470C;–teal:#0F5E66;–mist:#F3EEDF;–foam:#FBF8EF;–lure:#9FDAD2;–lure-ink:#0F5E66;–line:#E4DCC6;–muted:#55503F}.sf-mi .sf-hero{background-color:#6B470C;background-image:radial-gradient(820px 480px at 4% 100%,rgba(159,218,210,.30),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 460px at 96% 0%,rgba(240,190,80,.30),rgba(240,190,80,0) 60%),linear-gradient(160deg,#82590F,#6B470C 46%,#2E2410);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 54px),0 100%);padding-bottom:84px}.sf-mi .sf-hero::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(28,26,18,.84) 0%,rgba(28,26,18,.52) 52%,rgba(28,26,18,.16) 100%)}.sf-mi .sf-eyebrow{border-radius:4px;background:#1C1A12;color:#DFF5F1;border-left:5px solid #9FDAD2;padding:5px 14px 4px;letter-spacing:.06em}.sf-mi .sf-hero .sf-sub{color:#F7F0DE}.sf-mi .sf-hero[style*=”background-image”]::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(28,26,18,.90) 0%,rgba(28,26,18,.66) 46%,rgba(107,71,12,.32) 80%,rgba(107,71,12,.20) 100%),linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(20,18,12,.72),rgba(20,18,12,0) 50%)}.sf-mi .sf-bar{background-color:#1C1A12;background-image:radial-gradient(560px 230px at 96% 0,rgba(240,190,80,.22),rgba(240,190,80,0)),linear-gradient(100deg,#1C1A12 40%,#5A3D0E)}.sf-mi .sf-bar p{color:#EEE6D0}.sf-mi .sf-band–white,.sf-mi .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-color:#fff;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 94% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.16),rgba(107,71,12,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 4% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.44),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),radial-gradient(640px 400px at 50% 50%,rgba(240,190,80,.08),rgba(240,190,80,0) 62%),linear-gradient(135deg,#FFFFFF,#FBF7EC,#F2EBD8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 6% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.16),rgba(107,71,12,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 96% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.44),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(225deg,#FFFFFF,#FBF7EC,#F2EBD8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–mist{background-color:#F3EEDF;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 520px at 10% 8%,rgba(159,218,210,.42),rgba(159,218,210,0) 64%),radial-gradient(720px 460px at 92% 94%,rgba(107,71,12,.15),rgba(107,71,12,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#F8F4E8,#F3EEDF,#E9E0C8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink{color:#F6EFDC}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep{background-color:#5E3E0B;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 92% 6%,rgba(240,190,80,.12),rgba(240,190,80,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 500px at 6% 94%,rgba(159,218,210,.10),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#684610,#5E3E0B,#45300A)}.sf-mi .sf-band–ink{background-color:#1C1A12;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 8% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.58),rgba(107,71,12,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 480px at 94% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.12),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#2A2618,#1C1A12,#12100B)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-src,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-src{color:#DCD0B0}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-head p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-head p,.sf-mi .sf-cta p{color:#EFE6CC}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-card p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-card p,.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-fact span,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-fact span{color:#ECE2C4}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-list li span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-list li span{color:#EFE6CC}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–mist .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–white .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn){color:#0D5860}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–mist .sf-list li>span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–white .sf-list li>span{color:#4F4A3A}.sf-mi .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#0F5E66,#3E9C98)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-barrow .t,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#6CC8BD,#9FDAD2)}.sf-mi .sf-pill{background:#EDE4CB;color:#4C330B}.sf-mi .sf-btn:hover{background:#C4EBE5}.sf-mi .sf-card-img,.sf-mi .sf-tile{background-color:#6B470C}.sf-mi .sf-q p{color:#3A3626}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-kicker,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-kicker,.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-fact b,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-fact b{color:#B4E6DF}.sf-mi .sf-kicker{color:#0F5E66}.sf-mi .sf-pf-card h3{color:#0C1F2C!important}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-btn–ghost,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-btn–ghost{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.48);background:rgba(18,16,11,.38)}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#B4E6DF}.sf-mi .sf-tablewrap{color:#1C1A12;border-color:#E4DCC6}.sf-mi .sf-table td{color:#1C1A12}.sf-mi .sf-table th{background:#4C330B;color:#fff}.sf-mi .sf-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#FAF6EA}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-tablewrap a,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#0D5860}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q{background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q p{color:#F1E9D2}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q h3,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q h3{color:#FFF8E8}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-pill a{color:#0D5860}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-card .sf-more,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-card .sf-more{color:#C4EBE5}.sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs,.sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs a{color:#FFFFFF}.sf-mi .sf-note{color:#1C1A12}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-note a{color:#0D5860}@media (max-width:760px){.sf-mi .sf-hero{clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 26px),0 100%);padding-bottom:58px}}
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 $159.99
Menominee River 17 mi
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain 
Lake Michigan 73 mi
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain 
Indian Lake 71 mi
Photo: Sam Costanzo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Michigan inland lakes
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 $129.99
Hayward Lake Fishing
A 422-acre Michigan lake in Menominee County.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Menominee River: Robert Elliot/USFWS, Public domain
Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for the county around Hayward Lake, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Menominee County
Meet Hayward Lake
Plan on 422 acres of open lake at Hayward Lake in Menominee County. Stephenson is the closest town on the Census list, around 6 miles away. The MDNR handles it from the Northern Lake Michigan unit; it is a Upper Peninsula water. The lake lies in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion and the Northwestern Lake Michigan basin.
MDNR access data map 1 public launch. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 3 feet in 2023.
422acres
1public launches
3 ftsatellite clarity
Launches
Ramps serving Hayward Lake
- Hayward Lake Flooding Boat Access1 lane, 2 trailer spaces; Escanaba Customer Service Center (WLD)
More launches around Hayward Lake
- Walton River – North Lake Boat AccessWalton River, 3 miles northeast
- Cedar River State HarborCedar River, 8 miles northeast
- Koss LandingMenominee River, 10 miles west
- Cedar River North State Forest Campground Boat AccessCedar River, 11 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
Water clarity at Hayward Lake
Satellite Secchi depth for Hayward Lake comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 23.64 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.
Regulations
Keeper rules posted for Hayward 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 (Upper Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Upper Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | May 15 – 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 |
Hayward Lake follows the statewide inland table for the Upper 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.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Compare
Hayward Lake next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward Lake | 422 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| North Lake, Menominee County | 2 miles northeast | 302 | 1 | 2.9 | 0 |
| Lake Ann, Menominee County | 14 miles northwest | 25 | 1 | 12.5 | 0 |
| Lake Mary, Menominee County | 14 miles northwest | 35 | 1 | 10.3 | 0 |
| Resort Lake | 16 miles west | 129 | 1 | 9.7 | 6 |
| Menominee River | 19 miles south | 53 | 0 | 6.5 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
Near Hayward Lake
Nearby inland lakes for a Hayward Lake trip
- North Lake, Menominee County2 miles northeast
- Lake Ann, Menominee County14 miles northwest
- Lake Mary, Menominee County14 miles northwest
- Resort Lake16 miles west
- Menominee River19 miles south
Hiring a guide for Hayward Lake
- Caddis Shack Guide Servicecharter, Escanaba, (906) 280-8791
Places to stay around Hayward Lake
- Stephenson6 miles
- Daggett8 miles
- Carney16 miles
County fishing pages for Hayward Lake
- Menominee Countyseat: Menominee
Piscifun
Piscifun reels worth packing for Hayward Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs
Lakes and streams near Hayward Lake, pictured
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Sam Costanzo, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Answers
The usual questions about Hayward Lake
How far is Hayward Lake from a Michigan town?
It lies in Menominee County, Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 6 miles from Stephenson.
How large is Hayward Lake?
422 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Hayward Lake?
There are 1 public launch; Hayward Lake Flooding Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Hayward Lake?
No MDNR species list is published.
What are the keeper rules for Hayward Lake?
Walleye (Upper Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season May 15 – March 15.
Which Michigan license covers Hayward Lake?
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 Hayward Lake a clear lake?
Roughly 3 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Hayward Lake anglers pick up worms?
No shop on our Michigan list sits within 25 miles.
Put Hayward Lake on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.