Jordan Lake Fishing
A 418-acre Michigan lake in Barry County.
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A first look at Jordan Lake
Jordan Lake spreads across 418 acres in Barry County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 1 mile separates Jordan Lake from Lake Odessa. On the Lower Peninsula, it belongs to the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit. Ecoregion Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains; basin Southeastern Lake Michigan.
Species found since 1970 include bullhead, common carp, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike. The shore holds 1 public launch. EGLE satellite clarity: about 6 feet (2023). The MDNR names it a Family Friendly Fishing water.
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MDNR sources behind the Jordan Lake list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Jordan Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | 1 | 1957 |
| Bluegill | 1 | 1957 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 1 | 1957 |
| Bowfin | 1 | 1957 |
| Brook silverside | 1 | 1957 |
| Brown bullhead | 1 | 1957 |
| Central mudminnow | 1 | 1957 |
| Common shiner | 1 | 1957 |
| Grass pickerel | 1 | 1957 |
| Hornyhead chub | 1 | 1957 |
| Iowa darter | 1 | 1957 |
| Largemouth bass | 1 | 1957 |
| Longnose gar | 1 | 1957 |
| Northern pike | 1 | 1957 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Public launches on Jordan Lake
- Jordan Lake Boat Access2 lanes, 28 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Ionia State Recreation Area
Shore and pier access at Jordan Lake
- Jordan Lake fishing site, Lake Odessabank fishing area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Launch sites a short tow from Jordan Lake
- Saubee Lake Boat AccessSaubee Lake, 5 miles southeast
- Tamarack Lake Boat Access near SunfieldTamarack Lake, 5 miles southeast
- Morrison Lake Boat AccessMorrison Lake, 7 miles northwest
- Middle Lake Boat Access near HastingsMiddle Lake, 8 miles southwest
- Leach Lake Boat AccessLeach Lake, 8 miles southwest
- Thornapple Lake Boat AccessThornapple Lake, 10 miles south
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Jordan Lake runs
The Jordan Lake clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 14.7 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.
Harvest rules on Jordan 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 |
These are the Lower Peninsula inland rows that cover Jordan Lake.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Competitive fishing on Jordan Lake
The Jordan Lake event page lists registered dates, organizers and results.
Sizing up Jordan Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Lake | 418 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |
| Saubee Lake | 5 miles southeast | 77 | 1 | 11.3 | 0 |
| Tamarock Lake | 5 miles southeast | 16 | 1 | 8.2 | 0 |
| Morrison Lake, Ionia County | 7 miles northwest | 315 | 1 | 2.8 | 11 |
| Middle Lake near Hastings, Barry County | 8 miles southwest | 135 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Leach Lake, Barry County | 9 miles southwest | 107 | 1 | 9.3 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Jordan Lake
Neighboring lakes to Jordan Lake
- Saubee Lake5 miles southeast
- Tamarock Lake5 miles southeast
- Morrison Lake, Ionia County7 miles northwest
- Middle Lake near Hastings, Barry County8 miles southwest
- Leach Lake, Barry County9 miles southwest
Live bait and lures near Jordan Lake
- Wendell's Wholesale Baitbait and tackle shop, Woodland, 4 miles
- Dave's Dry Dockmarina, Clarksville, 5 miles
- Leach Lake Cabins & Resortbait and tackle shop, Hastings, 9 miles
- Al & Pete's Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Hastings, 11 miles
- Bob's Gun & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Hastings, 13 miles
- Mystic Rodsbait and tackle shop, Portland, 14 miles
Guided trips on Jordan Lake
- Fishin 4 Trophies Charterscharter, Wyoming, (616) 318-0102
- Getting Bit Guide Servicecharter, Grand Rapids, (616) 570-2946
- reel down outfitterscharter, hastings, (616) 914-7416
Overnight stops close to Jordan Lake
- Lake Odessa1 mile
- Woodland3 miles
- Clarksville7 miles
Where Jordan Lake sits by county
- Barry Countyseat: Hastings
A Piscifun setup for a day on Jordan Lake
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Fish an angler meets at Jordan Lake
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jordan Lake questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Jordan Lake?
Find it in Barry County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 1 mile from Lake Odessa.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Jordan Lake?
About 418 acres.
How many public launches reach Jordan Lake?
1 public launch; Jordan Lake Boat Access is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Jordan Lake?
Records show bullhead, common carp, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and sunfish.
Which limits apply on Jordan Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Jordan 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.
How deep does sunlight reach in Jordan Lake?
EGLE estimated 6 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Jordan Lake?
Try Wendell's Wholesale Bait, roughly 4 miles off.
Haul the boat to Jordan Lake
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.