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Manistee River 23 mi
Photo: papadakp, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Torch Lake 12 mi
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0 
Boardman River 17 mi
Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Grand Traverse County 14 mi
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Michigan inland lakes
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Lake Skegemog Fishing
A 2,769-acre Michigan lake in Kalkaska County.
Pick for northern pikePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Torch Lake: Andrew Lin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kalkaska County
Meet Lake Skegemog
Plan on 2,769 acres of open lake at Lake Skegemog in Kalkaska County. Rapid City is the closest town on the Census list, around 3 miles away. The MDNR handles it from the Central Lake Michigan unit; it is a Lower Peninsula water. The lake lies in the North Central Hardwood Forests ecoregion and the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan basin.
Recent MDNR records show northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, sunfish and walleye. MDNR access data map 1 public launch. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 10.7 feet in 2023. It is on the MDNR Family Friendly Fishing list.
2,769acres
1public launches
10.7 ftsatellite clarity
7fish on record
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Fish the MDNR has found in Lake Skegemog
The species chips for Lake Skegemog draw on the MDNR Fish Atlas, its fishing site lists and stocking logs.
Fish Atlas collections at Lake Skegemog by species
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | 2 | 1956 to 1985 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 3 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Common shiner | 3 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Johnny darter | 3 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Northern logperch | 3 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Yellow perch | 3 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Bluegill | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Iowa darter | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Largemouth bass | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Longnose gar | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Rock bass | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | 1923 to 1956 |
| Black bullhead | 1 | 1956 |
| Blackchin shiner | 1 | 1956 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launches
Ramps serving Lake Skegemog
- Lake Skegemog Boat Access2 lanes, 26 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Traverse City State Park
MDNR fishing sites at Lake Skegemog
- Skegemog lake fishing site, Williamsburg. Whitewater Twp. Clearwater twp Kal co.bank fishing area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
More launches around Lake Skegemog
- Torch River Boat AccessTorch River, 2 miles north
- Torch River Bridge Boat AccessTorch Lake, 3 miles north
- Elk Lake Boat AccessElk Lake, 5 miles north
- Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground Boat AccessGuernsey Lake, 7 miles south
- Clam Lake Boat AccessClam Lake, 9 miles northeast
- Waring Road Boat AccessTorch Lake, 9 miles north
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
Water clarity at Lake Skegemog
Satellite Secchi depth for Lake Skegemog comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 4 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.
Regulations
Keeper rules posted for Lake Skegemog
| 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 |
Lake Skegemog follows the statewide inland table for the Lower Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
Muskellunge kept from Lake Skegemog must reach 50 inches under the digest list.
Local exceptions for Lake Skegemog
- Kalkaska CountyTorch R. from the Crystal Beach Rd Bridge downstream to L. Skegemog including Rapid R. up to Aarwood Rd Bridge – From May 1 – July 1 it shall be unlawful to use other than one single-pointed unweighted hook measuring 1/2-inch or less from point to shank.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Compare
Lake Skegemog next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Skegemog | 2,769 | 1 | 10.7 | 7 | |
| Elk Lake | 4 miles northwest | 8,201 | 3 | 15.6 | 2 |
| Sand Lake (#4) | 7 miles south | 12 | 0 | 17.6 | 0 |
| Guernsey Lake, Kalkaska County | 7 miles south | 31 | 1 | 14.2 | 0 |
| Birch Lake, Antrim County | 9 miles north | 326 | 1 | 16.3 | 0 |
| Clam Lake, Antrim County | 9 miles northeast | 438 | 1 | 12.3 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
Near Lake Skegemog
Nearby inland lakes for a Lake Skegemog trip
- Elk Lake4 miles northwest
- Sand Lake (#4)7 miles south
- Guernsey Lake, Kalkaska County7 miles south
- Birch Lake, Antrim County9 miles north
- Clam Lake, Antrim County9 miles northeast
Tackle stores within a drive of Lake Skegemog
- Luhrs Landing Marinamarina, Rapid City, 2 miles
- Wrights Marine and RVmarina, Rapid City, 2 miles
- Rose Marys Dockagemarina, Rapid City, 2 miles
- Torch River Marinemarina, Rapid City, 3 miles
- J & J's Bait & Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Rapid City, 3 miles
- Glassman Marine Servicesmarina, Alden, 4 miles
Hiring a guide for Lake Skegemog
- Daydreamer Fishing Charter Svccharter, Williamsburg, (231) 218-5176
- Hooked Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Williamsburg, (231) 633-0834
- Prime Time Fishing Charterscharter, Williamsburg, (231) 645-6005
- Reel Fun Fishing Charterscharter, Traverse City, (231) 929-9272
Places to stay around Lake Skegemog
- Rapid City3 miles
- Alden5 miles
- Elk Rapids7 miles
County fishing pages for Lake Skegemog
- Kalkaska Countyseat: Kalkaska
Piscifun
Piscifun reels worth packing for Lake Skegemog
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Photographs
Lakes and streams near Lake Skegemog, pictured
Photo: papadakp, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Answers
The usual questions about Lake Skegemog
How far is Lake Skegemog from a Michigan town?
It lies in Kalkaska County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 3 miles from Rapid City.
How large is Lake Skegemog?
2,769 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Lake Skegemog?
There are 1 public launch; Lake Skegemog Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Lake Skegemog?
The MDNR names northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, sunfish, walleye and yellow perch.
What are the keeper rules for Lake Skegemog?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15. Muskellunge here carry a 50-inch minimum. The digest also lists 1 county exception.
Which Michigan license covers Lake Skegemog?
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.
Is Lake Skegemog a clear lake?
Roughly 10.7 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Lake Skegemog anglers pick up worms?
Luhrs Landing Marina, about 2 miles away.
Put Lake Skegemog on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.