Lake Macatawa Fishing
A 1,802-acre Michigan lake in Ottawa County, trout lake Type F.
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A first look at Lake Macatawa
Lake Macatawa spreads across 1,802 acres in Ottawa County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 4 miles separates Lake Macatawa from Holland. 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 round whitefish, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, catfish, crappie and largemouth bass. The shore holds 3 public launches. EGLE satellite clarity: about 2.7 feet (2023). The MDNR names it a Family Friendly Fishing water.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Species anglers find in Lake Macatawa
MDNR sources behind the Lake Macatawa list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Lake Macatawa
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Round whitefish | 1 | 2000 |
| Shorthead redhorse | 1 | 1979 |
| Silver redhorse | 1 | 1979 |
| Flathead catfish | 1 | 1942 |
| Lake herring | 1 | 1942 |
| Mottled sculpin | 1 | 1942 |
| Quillback | 1 | 1939 |
| Bluegill | 1 | 1937 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 1 | 1937 |
| Brook silverside | 1 | 1937 |
| Common shiner | 1 | 1937 |
| Johnny darter | 1 | 1937 |
| Spottail shiner | 1 | 1916 |
| Western banded killifish | 1 | 1916 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Trout rules by Type at Lake Macatawa
| Rule | Value for Lake Macatawa |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Type F Non Designated |
| Fishing season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Possession season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Daily possession | 5 fish in any combination, but no more than 3 fish of any one species, except up to 5 salmon (Chinook or coho) may be retained. Zero (0) Artic Grayling. |
| Tackle | All types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used. |
| Minimum sizes | brook 10", brown 10", rainbow 10", splake 10", lake trout 10", Chinook 10", coho 10", pink 10", Atlantic 10" |
For trout, Lake Macatawa is a Type F lake; the table repeats the MDNR entry.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Lake Regulation Types layer and 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 42-65.
Public launches on Lake Macatawa
- Lake Macatawa Boat Access6 lanes, 161 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, fish cleaning station, Recreation Passport; Holland State Park
- Kollen Park3 lanes, 73 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; City of Holland
- Howard Dunton Parkboat ramp; Holland Township
Shore and pier access at Lake Macatawa
- Lake Macatawa fishing site, Park Townshipfishing pier, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., pier
Launch sites a short tow from Lake Macatawa
- Pigeon Lake Boat AccessPigeon Lake, 8 miles north
- Hacklander Boat AccessKalamazoo River, 10 miles south
- George Schutmaat ParkRabbit River, 12 miles southeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Lake Macatawa runs
The Lake Macatawa clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 51.52 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 Lake Macatawa
| 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 F) | 5 fish in any combination, but no more than 3 of any one species, except up to 5 salmon (Chinook or coho); minimum brook 10", brown/rainbow/splake 10", lake trout 10", Chinook/coho/pink 10", | Open all year |
These are the Lower Peninsula inland rows that cover Lake Macatawa.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Recent fish plants in Lake Macatawa
From 2024 to 2026 the table shows 5 plants and 98,350 fish for Lake Macatawa, mainly walleye.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2026 | Walleye | Muskegon | 3.1 in | 51,049 |
| June 5, 2025 | Walleye | Muskegon | 3.2 in | 16,625 |
| November 13, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 22.9 in | 2,546 |
| June 8, 2024 | Walleye | Muskegon | 3.5 in | 27,520 |
| October 5, 2024 | Walleye | Muskegon | 18.1 in | 610 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Sizing up Lake Macatawa against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Macatawa | 1,802 | 3 | 2.7 | 13 | |
| Lake Macatawa inlet | 3 miles east | 13 | 0 | 2.3 | 0 |
| Pigeon Lake, Ottawa County | 9 miles north | 72 | 1 | 13.1 | 0 |
| Kalamazoo Lake | 9 miles south | 321 | 1 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Hutchins Lake | 14 miles south | 380 | 0 | 6.8 | 4 |
| Ely Lake | 19 miles southeast | 27 | 1 | 7.6 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Lake Macatawa
Neighboring lakes to Lake Macatawa
- Lake Macatawa inlet3 miles east
- Pigeon Lake, Ottawa County9 miles north
- Kalamazoo Lake9 miles south
- Hutchins Lake14 miles south
- Ely Lake19 miles southeast
Live bait and lures near Lake Macatawa
- Yacht Basin Marinamarina, Holland, under a mile
- Anchorage Fuel Dockmarina, Holland, under a mile
- Macatawa Lake Public Accessmarina, Holland, under a mile
- Water Street Marinamarina, Holland, 1 mile
- Parkside Marinamarina, Holland, 1 mile
- Eldeans Marina Shipyardmarina, Macatawa, 2 miles
Guided trips on Lake Macatawa
- Bending Limits Sportfishingcharter, Holland, (989) 464-6546
- Deep V Sportfishing Charterscharter, Holland, (616) 836-9306
- Fish n Fin Charter Servicescharter, Holland, (269) 543-3474
- Tangled Mess Charters LLCcharter, Holland, (616) 889-6603
Overnight stops close to Lake Macatawa
- Beechwood3 miles
- Holland4 miles
- Saugatuck9 miles
Where Lake Macatawa sits by county
- Ottawa Countyseat: Grand Haven
A Piscifun setup for a day on Lake Macatawa
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Fish an angler meets at Lake Macatawa
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Macatawa questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Lake Macatawa?
Find it in Ottawa County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 4 miles from Holland.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Lake Macatawa?
About 1,802 acres.
How many public launches reach Lake Macatawa?
3 public launches; Lake Macatawa Boat Access is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Lake Macatawa?
Records show round whitefish, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
Which limits apply on Lake Macatawa?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Lake Macatawa?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
How deep does sunlight reach in Lake Macatawa?
EGLE estimated 2.7 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Lake Macatawa?
Try Yacht Basin Marina, under a mile off.
Does the MDNR plant fish in Lake Macatawa?
The latest MDNR plants on file (2026): 51,049 walleye.
Which trout lake Type is Lake Macatawa?
Type F (type f non designated): 5 fish in any combination, but no more than 3 fish of any one species, except up to 5 salmon (Chinook or coho) may be retained. Zero (0) Artic Grayling. Season january 1st to december 31st.
Haul the boat to Lake Macatawa
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.