Manistique Lake Fishing
A 10,354-acre Michigan lake in Mackinac County.
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Manistique Lake for visiting anglers
EGLE mapping gives Manistique Lake 10,354 acres of surface water inside Mackinac County. Base a trip in Newberry, about 14 miles from the lake. MDNR biologists of the Eastern Lake Superior unit cover it (Upper Peninsula). EPA ecoregion: Northern Lakes and Forests. Watershed: Northwestern Lake Michigan.
Anglers can expect cisco, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch, per MDNR records. Boaters reach it through 4 public launches. In 2023, July to September imagery gave roughly 8.8 feet of clarity. Family Friendly Fishing lists it, a sign of easy access for kids.
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Chips below show what the MDNR has documented in Manistique Lake.
MDNR Fish Atlas records from Manistique Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake herring | 2 | 1936 to 1987 |
| Common shiner | 4 | 1922 to 1952 |
| Johnny darter | 4 | 1926 to 1952 |
| Walleye | 3 | 1926 to 1952 |
| Emerald shiner | 1 | 1952 |
| Shorthead redhorse | 1 | 1952 |
| Mimic shiner | 4 | 1926 to 1936 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 3 | 1922 to 1926 |
| Sand shiner | 3 | 1922 to 1926 |
| Spottail shiner | 3 | 1893 to 1926 |
| Yellow perch | 3 | 1922 to 1926 |
| Mottled sculpin | 2 | 1926 |
| White sucker | 2 | 1926 |
| Brook stickleback | 1 | 1926 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Getting a boat onto Manistique Lake
- Cooks Bay Boat Access1 lane, 5 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Newberry Field Office (PRD)
- County Line Boat Access on Big Manistique Lake1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Newberry Field Office (PRD)
- Northside Boat Access1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Newberry Field Office (PRD)
- Saw-Wa-Quato Boat Access1 lane, 17 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet; Portage Township
Bank fishing on Manistique Lake
- Big Manistique Lake fishing site, Curtisbank fishing area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Other public launches near Manistique Lake
- Portage Township ParkSouth Manistique Lake, 3 miles south
- Luce County ParkNorth Manistique Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Wolfe Bay Boat AccessSouth Manistique Lake, 4 miles south
- South Manistique Lake SFCG Boat AccessSouth Manistique Lake, 5 miles south
- Ten Curves Boat AccessManistique River, 6 miles west
- Dunkles LandingSouth Manistique Lake, 6 miles south
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Satellite clarity readings for Manistique Lake
Clarity at Manistique Lake is estimated from summer Landsat scenes by EGLE.
EGLE put 2023 chlorophyll a at 5.27 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.
Size and bag limits on Manistique 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 (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 |
For Manistique Lake, statewide inland limits for the Upper Peninsula apply unless an exception is listed.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Fish planted in Manistique Lake
The MDNR stocking table logs 1 plants in Manistique Lake from 2025 to 2025, 10,000 fish in all, mostly walleye.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 18, 2025 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 16.5 in | 10,000 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Lakes around Manistique Lake side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistique Lake | 10,354 | 4 | 8.8 | 4 | |
| North Manistique Lake | 3 miles north | 1,710 | 1 | 11.3 | 1 |
| South Manistique Lake | 4 miles south | 4,136 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Lost Lake near Newberry, Schoolcraft County | 6 miles southwest | 19 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Kennedy Lake, Schoolcraft County | 6 miles west | 141 | 1 | 5.9 | 0 |
| East Lake, Luce County | 7 miles northeast | 125 | 1 | 14.1 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
In the Manistique Lake area
More Michigan lakes by Manistique Lake
- North Manistique Lake3 miles north
- South Manistique Lake4 miles south
- Lost Lake near Newberry, Schoolcraft County6 miles southwest
- Kennedy Lake, Schoolcraft County6 miles west
- East Lake, Luce County7 miles northeast
Stores that outfit Manistique Lake anglers
- Mick's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Curtis, 2 miles
Where to sleep for a trip to Manistique Lake
- Newberry14 miles
- Naubinway18 miles
- Manistique31 miles
Manistique Lake county guides
- Mackinac Countyseat: St. Ignace
Reels and a weigh-scale grip for Manistique Lake
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The shore near Manistique Lake through a lens
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Photo: ksblack99, Public domain
Asked and answered: fishing Manistique Lake
Where in Michigan does Manistique Lake lie?
Mackinac County, Eastern Lake Superior Management Unit, about 14 miles from Newberry is where it sits.
What is the surface area of Manistique Lake in acres?
EGLE measures 10,354 acres.
Where is the ramp at Manistique Lake?
4 public launches, including Cooks Bay Boat Access.
Does Manistique Lake hold bluegill and other panfish?
MDNR records list cisco, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch.
What size limits cover Manistique Lake?
Walleye (Upper Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season May 15 – March 15.
Does fishing Manistique Lake call for a Michigan license?
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 many feet of visibility does Manistique Lake have?
In 2023, about 8.8 feet.
Which Michigan bait counter is the shortest drive from Manistique Lake?
Closest on our list: Mick's Bait Shop at 2 miles.
How many fish went into Manistique Lake recently?
Most recently in 2025: 10,000 walleye.
Spend a morning casting Manistique Lake
Buy the all-species license before you leave home.