Lake Ovid Fishing
A 362-acre Michigan lake in Clinton County.
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Grand River: Lola Audu, CC BY 2.0
A first look at Lake Ovid
Lake Ovid spreads across 362 acres in Clinton County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 2 miles separates Lake Ovid from Lake Victoria. 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 redear sunfish, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and sunfish. The shore holds 1 public launch. EGLE satellite clarity: about 4.3 feet (2023). The MDNR names it a Family Friendly Fishing water.
For the redear sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species anglers find in Lake Ovid
MDNR sources behind the Lake Ovid list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Lake Ovid
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Redear sunfish | 2 | 1997 |
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 Ovid
- Sleepy Hollow State Park3 lanes, 68 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Sleepy Hollow State Park
Shore and pier access at Lake Ovid
- Lake Ovid fishing site, Victor and Ovid Townshipsfishing pier, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., pier
Launch sites a short tow from Lake Ovid
- Looking Glass River Boat AccessLooking Glass River, 5 miles southwest
- Muskrat Lake Boat AccessMuskrat Lake, 9 miles west
- Rose Lake Boat AccessRose Lake, 10 miles south
- Potter Lake Boat AccessPotter Lake, 10 miles south
- Park LakePark Lake, 10 miles south
- Lake Lansing Park – NorthLake Lansing, 12 miles south
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Lake Ovid runs
The Lake Ovid clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 27.29 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 Ovid
| 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 Lake Ovid.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Recent fish plants in Lake Ovid
From 2024 to 2025 the table shows 3 plants and 17,085 fish for Lake Ovid, mainly channel catfish.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2025 | Channel catfish | 14.6 in | 8,417 | |
| June 18, 2024 | Channel catfish | 11.8 in | 8,258 | |
| October 31, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 23.3 in | 410 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Competitive fishing on Lake Ovid
The Lake Ovid event page lists registered dates, organizers and results.
Sizing up Lake Ovid against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Ovid | 362 | 1 | 4.3 | 8 | |
| Round Lake, Clinton County | 4 miles southwest | 87 | 0 | 8.6 | 7 |
| Muskrat Lake, Clinton County | 9 miles west | 44 | 1 | 1.6 | 0 |
| Potter Lake, Clinton County | 10 miles south | 20 | 1 | 0 | |
| Rose Lake, Clinton County | 10 miles south | 30 | 1 | 8.1 | 0 |
| Park Lake, Clinton County | 10 miles south | 185 | 1 | 7.2 | 8 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Lake Ovid
Neighboring lakes to Lake Ovid
- Round Lake, Clinton County4 miles southwest
- Muskrat Lake, Clinton County9 miles west
- Potter Lake, Clinton County10 miles south
- Rose Lake, Clinton County10 miles south
- Park Lake, Clinton County10 miles south
Live bait and lures near Lake Ovid
- Ovid Automotive Parts & Baitbait and tackle shop, Ovid, 5 miles
- River Rat Rods Bait & Tackle, 1120 W Stewart STbait and tackle shop, Owosso, 12 miles
- River Rat Rods Bait & Tackle, 818 Michigan Avebait and tackle shop, Owosso, 12 miles
- Nomad Anglers Orvisbait and tackle shop, Okemos, 14 miles
- Grand River Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lansing, 15 miles
- Moose Creek Archery Gun/Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lansing, 17 miles
Guided trips on Lake Ovid
- Murphys Fish Taxidermyfishing guide, Howell, (517) 548-6857
Overnight stops close to Lake Ovid
- Lake Victoria2 miles
- Laingsburg4 miles
- Ovid5 miles
Where Lake Ovid sits by county
- Clinton Countyseat: St. Johns
A Piscifun setup for a day on Lake Ovid
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish an angler meets at Lake Ovid
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
_(12658772703).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Lake Ovid questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Lake Ovid?
Find it in Clinton County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 2 miles from Lake Victoria.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Lake Ovid?
About 362 acres.
How many public launches reach Lake Ovid?
1 public launch; Sleepy Hollow State Park is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Lake Ovid?
Records show redear sunfish, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge, sunfish and yellow perch.
Which limits apply on Lake Ovid?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Lake Ovid?
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 Ovid?
EGLE estimated 4.3 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Lake Ovid?
Try Ovid Automotive Parts & Bait, roughly 5 miles off.
Does the MDNR plant fish in Lake Ovid?
The latest MDNR plants on file (2025): 8,417 channel catfish.
Haul the boat to Lake Ovid
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.