Lake Michigamme Fishing
A 4,294-acre Michigan lake in Marquette County.
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A first look at Lake Michigamme
Lake Michigamme spreads across 4,294 acres in Marquette County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 2 miles separates Lake Michigamme from Michigamme. On the Upper Peninsula, it belongs to the Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit. Ecoregion Northern Lakes and Forests; basin Northwestern Lake Michigan.
Species found since 1970 include lake whitefish and muskellunge. The shore holds 3 public launches. EGLE satellite clarity: about 6.9 feet (2023).
For the muskellunge herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Species anglers find in Lake Michigamme
MDNR sources behind the Lake Michigamme list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Lake Michigamme
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake whitefish | 1 | 1993 |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 1976 |
| Black crappie | 1 | 1937 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 2 | 1923 |
| Common shiner | 2 | 1923 |
| Golden shiner | 2 | 1923 |
| Iowa darter | 2 | 1923 |
| Largemouth bass | 2 | 1923 |
| Mottled sculpin | 2 | 1923 |
| Northern pike | 2 | 1923 |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | 1923 |
| White sucker | 2 | 1923 |
| Yellow perch | 2 | 1923 |
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 Lake Michigamme
- Lake Michigamme Boat Access2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Van Riper State Park
- Michigamme Township Park1 lane, 8 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet; Michigamme Township
- Van Riper State Park1 lane, 17 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Van Riper State Park
Launch sites a short tow from Lake Michigamme
- Lake Keewaydin Boat AccessLake Keewaydin, 7 miles northwest
- Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground Boat AccessBeaufort Lake, 7 miles west
- Arfelin Lake Boat AccessArfelin Lake, 8 miles north
- Ruth Lake Boat AccessRuth Lake, 9 miles west
- Perch Lake Boat Access near RepublicPerch Lake, 9 miles southeast
- Wolf Lake Boat Access near MichigammeWolf Lake, 9 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Lake Michigamme runs
The Lake Michigamme clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 4.18 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 Michigamme
| 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 |
These are the Upper Peninsula inland rows that cover Lake Michigamme.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Recent fish plants in Lake Michigamme
From 2024 to 2024 the table shows 5 plants and 6,518 fish for Lake Michigamme, mainly muskellunge.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 23.4 in | 3,592 |
| October 28, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 23.3 in | 1,759 |
| November 13, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 22.7 in | 532 |
| November 6, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 22.1 in | 437 |
| October 30, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 21.3 in | 198 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Sizing up Lake Michigamme against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigamme | 4,294 | 3 | 6.9 | 2 | |
| Twin Lake, Marquette County | 4 miles southeast | 46 | 0 | 5.8 | 0 |
| Fish Lake, Marquette County | 4 miles east | 151 | 0 | 5.9 | 0 |
| Beaufort Lake | 6 miles west | 468 | 1 | 7.8 | 0 |
| Lake Keewaydin | 7 miles northwest | 132 | 1 | 7.3 | 0 |
| Fence Lake, Baraga County | 7 miles west | 233 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Lake Michigamme
Neighboring lakes to Lake Michigamme
- Twin Lake, Marquette County4 miles southeast
- Fish Lake, Marquette County4 miles east
- Beaufort Lake6 miles west
- Lake Keewaydin7 miles northwest
- Fence Lake, Baraga County7 miles west
Live bait and lures near Lake Michigamme
- Champion Sports & Baitbait and tackle shop, Champion, 6 miles
Overnight stops close to Lake Michigamme
- Michigamme2 miles
- Three Lakes7 miles
- Republic8 miles
Where Lake Michigamme sits by county
- Marquette Countyseat: Marquette
A Piscifun setup for a day on Lake Michigamme
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Fish an angler meets at Lake Michigamme
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Lake Michigamme questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Lake Michigamme?
Find it in Marquette County, Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 2 miles from Michigamme.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Lake Michigamme?
About 4,294 acres.
How many public launches reach Lake Michigamme?
3 public launches; Lake Michigamme Boat Access is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Lake Michigamme?
Records show lake whitefish and muskellunge.
Which limits apply on Lake Michigamme?
Walleye (Upper Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season May 15 – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Lake Michigamme?
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 Lake Michigamme?
EGLE estimated 6.9 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Lake Michigamme?
Try Champion Sports & Bait, roughly 6 miles off.
Does the MDNR plant fish in Lake Michigamme?
The latest MDNR plants on file (2024): 3,592 muskellunge, 1,759 muskellunge and 532 muskellunge.
Haul the boat to Lake Michigamme
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.