Higgins Lake Fishing
A 10,193-acre Michigan lake in Roscommon County, trout lake Type E.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Higgins Lake: size, place and fish
Roscommon County holds Higgins Lake, a lake of 10,193 acres. The nearest Census place is Roscommon, roughly 8 miles from the shore point. Management unit: Central Lake Michigan; peninsula: Lower Peninsula. Its water heads toward the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan basin, in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion.
MDNR records name lake whitefish, cisco, brook trout, brown trout, bullhead and common carp. You can launch at 3 public launches. A 2023 satellite estimate shows about 21.7 feet of visibility. MDNR flags it as a Family Friendly Fishing spot.
For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What swims in Higgins Lake
Each fish below has an MDNR record tied to Higgins Lake.
How often surveys found each fish at Higgins Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake whitefish | 2 | 1929 to 1995 |
| Lake herring | 8 | 1926 to 1987 |
| Sand shiner | 8 | 1935 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 6 | 1922 to 1935 |
| Yellow perch | 6 | 1935 |
| Johnny darter | 4 | 1935 |
| Rosyface shiner | 4 | 1935 |
| Rock bass | 3 | 1935 |
| Spottail shiner | 3 | 1926 to 1935 |
| Mimic shiner | 2 | 1935 |
| Spotfin shiner | 2 | 1935 |
| Brook trout | 1 | 1935 |
| Emerald shiner | 1 | 1934 |
| Ninespine stickleback | 1 | 1934 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
The inland trout Type for Higgins Lake
| Rule | Value for Higgins Lake |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Type E Non Designated |
| Fishing season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Possession season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Daily possession | Three (3) trout and Atlantic salmon, combined and zero (0) Arctic Grayling. |
| Tackle | All types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used. |
| Minimum sizes | brook 15", brown 15", rainbow 15", splake 15", lake trout 15", Chinook 10", coho 10", pink 10", Atlantic 15" |
Use the Type E rules above for trout and salmon on Higgins Lake.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Lake Regulation Types layer and 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 42-65.
Launch sites at Higgins Lake
- South Higgins Lake State Park8 lanes, 210 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; South Higgins Lake State Park
- Higgins Lake West Boat Access6 lanes, 137 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; North Higgins Lake State Park
- North Higgins Lake State Park3 lanes, 45 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; North Higgins Lake State Park
Fishing sites along Higgins Lake
- Higgins/Marl Lake fishing site, Gerrish Townshipbank fishing area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Ramps within reach of Higgins Lake
- Marl Lake Boat AccessMarl Lake, 5 miles southeast
- Meads LandingAu Sable River – South Branch, 8 miles east
- Houghton Lake West Boat AccessHoughton Lake, 9 miles south
- Steckert Bridge Boat AccessAu Sable River – South Branch, 9 miles northeast
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground Boat AccessDead Stream Flooding, 9 miles southwest
- Houghton Lake East Boat AccessHoughton Lake, 10 miles southeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
The color and clarity of Higgins Lake
EGLE derives the Higgins Lake readings from Landsat, July through September.
Algae, measured as chlorophyll a, ran 1.75 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.
Water height on Higgins Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Higgins Lake Near Roscommon, Mi | 5.32 ft gage height, 1,153.68 ft lake elevation | Oct 23 4:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 23, 2026 4:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Season dates at Higgins 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 and salmon (lake Type E) | 3; minimum brook 15", brown/rainbow/splake 15", lake trout 15", Chinook/coho/pink 10", Atlantic 15" | Open all year |
The table gives the statewide inland limits Higgins 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 Higgins Lake
Between 2024 and 2026, 18 recorded plants put 276,624 fish into Higgins Lake; rainbow trout lead the list.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 18.3 in | 9,921 |
| April 16, 2026 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 18.7 in | 6,790 |
| April 16, 2026 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 18.7 in | 6,789 |
| April 14, 2026 | Lake trout | Lake Superior | 14.3 in | 31,454 |
| April 15, 2026 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 19.6 in | 11,620 |
| April 15, 2026 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 19.6 in | 11,620 |
| April 15, 2026 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 19.6 in | 2,559 |
| April 14, 2025 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 19.5 in | 20,798 |
| April 14, 2025 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 18.9 in | 4,000 |
| April 8, 2025 | Lake trout | Lake Superior | 14.1 in | 30,799 |
| October 30, 2025 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 12.9 in | 25,532 |
| April 15, 2025 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 19.3 in | 21,897 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Higgins Lake compared with close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higgins Lake | 10,193 | 3 | 21.7 | 18 | |
| Marl Lake near Roscommon, Roscommon County | 5 miles southeast | 238 | 1 | 1.4 | 0 |
| Dead Stream Flooding | 8 miles southwest | 567 | 2 | 8 | |
| Houghton Lake | 8 miles south | 20,090 | 4 | 8.7 | 8 |
| Lake Margrethe | 12 miles north | 1,924 | 1 | 10.7 | 0 |
| Kneff Lakes | 14 miles northeast | 13 | 0 | 19.1 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
A short drive from Higgins Lake
Lakes in the same corner as Higgins Lake
- Marl Lake near Roscommon, Roscommon County5 miles southeast
- Dead Stream Flooding8 miles southwest
- Houghton Lake8 miles south
- Lake Margrethe12 miles north
- Kneff Lakes14 miles northeast
Shops to stop at on the way to Higgins Lake
- Old Point Comfort Marine Ltdmarina, Higgins Lake, 2 miles
- B & B Sports Center & Marinamarina, Roscommon, 3 miles
- Pioneer Hills Marinemarina, Roscommon, 5 miles
- Marine Service Unlimitedmarina, Houghton Lake, 5 miles
- Hcpmarina, Houghton Lake, 5 miles
- Lapham's Marinamarina, Houghton Lake, 8 miles
Guides that list Higgins Lake
- Daydreamer Fishing Charter Svccharter, Williamsburg, (231) 218-5176
- Fish With Jim Outfitterscharter, Mancelona, (248) 252-1277
- Hooked Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Williamsburg, (231) 633-0834
Base camps for Higgins Lake
- Roscommon8 miles
- Houghton Lake12 miles
- Prudenville12 miles
Counties that Higgins Lake spans
- Roscommon Countyseat: Roscommon
Piscifun gear picked for Higgins Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species to expect at Higgins Lake
Photo: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_Gavins_Point.jpg){kind=link}
Things to settle before fishing Higgins Lake
Which part of Michigan holds Higgins Lake?
Its shore is in Roscommon County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 8 miles from Roscommon.
What size is Higgins Lake?
10,193 acres of surface water.
Does Higgins Lake have a public boat launch?
MDNR maps 3 public launches; South Higgins Lake State Park is a good start.
What swims in Higgins Lake?
lake whitefish, cisco, brook trout, brown trout, bullhead, common carp and catfish, per MDNR records.
Which MDNR rules govern Higgins Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Can a visitor fish Higgins Lake on a Michigan license?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
Does Higgins Lake run clear or murky?
Summer 2023 imagery: about 21.7 feet.
Who sells bait nearest Higgins Lake?
Old Point Comfort Marine Ltd sits about 2 miles from the lake.
Is Higgins Lake stocked?
In 2026 the MDNR planted 9,921 brown trout, 6,790 brown trout and 6,789 brown trout.
Is Higgins Lake a designated trout lake?
Type E (type e non designated): Three (3) trout and Atlantic salmon, combined and zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season january 1st to december 31st.
Pick a weekend for Higgins Lake
The license page holds every Michigan fee and season.