.sf-mi{–ink:#1C1A12;–deep:#6B470C;–teal:#0F5E66;–mist:#F3EEDF;–foam:#FBF8EF;–lure:#9FDAD2;–lure-ink:#0F5E66;–line:#E4DCC6;–muted:#55503F}.sf-mi .sf-hero{background-color:#6B470C;background-image:radial-gradient(820px 480px at 4% 100%,rgba(159,218,210,.30),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 460px at 96% 0%,rgba(240,190,80,.30),rgba(240,190,80,0) 60%),linear-gradient(160deg,#82590F,#6B470C 46%,#2E2410);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 54px),0 100%);padding-bottom:84px}.sf-mi .sf-hero::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(28,26,18,.84) 0%,rgba(28,26,18,.52) 52%,rgba(28,26,18,.16) 100%)}.sf-mi .sf-eyebrow{border-radius:4px;background:#1C1A12;color:#DFF5F1;border-left:5px solid #9FDAD2;padding:5px 14px 4px;letter-spacing:.06em}.sf-mi .sf-hero .sf-sub{color:#F7F0DE}.sf-mi .sf-hero[style*=”background-image”]::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(28,26,18,.90) 0%,rgba(28,26,18,.66) 46%,rgba(107,71,12,.32) 80%,rgba(107,71,12,.20) 100%),linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(20,18,12,.72),rgba(20,18,12,0) 50%)}.sf-mi .sf-bar{background-color:#1C1A12;background-image:radial-gradient(560px 230px at 96% 0,rgba(240,190,80,.22),rgba(240,190,80,0)),linear-gradient(100deg,#1C1A12 40%,#5A3D0E)}.sf-mi .sf-bar p{color:#EEE6D0}.sf-mi .sf-band–white,.sf-mi .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-color:#fff;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 94% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.16),rgba(107,71,12,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 4% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.44),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),radial-gradient(640px 400px at 50% 50%,rgba(240,190,80,.08),rgba(240,190,80,0) 62%),linear-gradient(135deg,#FFFFFF,#FBF7EC,#F2EBD8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 6% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.16),rgba(107,71,12,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 96% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.44),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(225deg,#FFFFFF,#FBF7EC,#F2EBD8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–mist{background-color:#F3EEDF;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 520px at 10% 8%,rgba(159,218,210,.42),rgba(159,218,210,0) 64%),radial-gradient(720px 460px at 92% 94%,rgba(107,71,12,.15),rgba(107,71,12,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#F8F4E8,#F3EEDF,#E9E0C8)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink{color:#F6EFDC}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep{background-color:#5E3E0B;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 92% 6%,rgba(240,190,80,.12),rgba(240,190,80,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 500px at 6% 94%,rgba(159,218,210,.10),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#684610,#5E3E0B,#45300A)}.sf-mi .sf-band–ink{background-color:#1C1A12;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 8% 6%,rgba(107,71,12,.58),rgba(107,71,12,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 480px at 94% 96%,rgba(159,218,210,.12),rgba(159,218,210,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#2A2618,#1C1A12,#12100B)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-src,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-src{color:#DCD0B0}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-head p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-head p,.sf-mi .sf-cta p{color:#EFE6CC}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-card p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-card p,.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-fact span,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-fact span{color:#ECE2C4}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-list li span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-list li span{color:#EFE6CC}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–mist .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–white .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn){color:#0D5860}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–mist .sf-list li>span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–white .sf-list li>span{color:#4F4A3A}.sf-mi .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#0F5E66,#3E9C98)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-barrow .t,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#6CC8BD,#9FDAD2)}.sf-mi .sf-pill{background:#EDE4CB;color:#4C330B}.sf-mi .sf-btn:hover{background:#C4EBE5}.sf-mi .sf-card-img,.sf-mi .sf-tile{background-color:#6B470C}.sf-mi .sf-q p{color:#3A3626}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-kicker,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-kicker,.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-fact b,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-fact b{color:#B4E6DF}.sf-mi .sf-kicker{color:#0F5E66}.sf-mi .sf-pf-card h3{color:#0C1F2C!important}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-btn–ghost,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-btn–ghost{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.48);background:rgba(18,16,11,.38)}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#B4E6DF}.sf-mi .sf-tablewrap{color:#1C1A12;border-color:#E4DCC6}.sf-mi .sf-table td{color:#1C1A12}.sf-mi .sf-table th{background:#4C330B;color:#fff}.sf-mi .sf-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#FAF6EA}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-tablewrap a,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#0D5860}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q{background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q p,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q p{color:#F1E9D2}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-q h3,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-q h3{color:#FFF8E8}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-pill a{color:#0D5860}.sf-mi .sf-band–deep .sf-card .sf-more,.sf-mi .sf-band–ink .sf-card .sf-more{color:#C4EBE5}.sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs,.sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs span,body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-bar .sf-crumbs a{color:#FFFFFF}.sf-mi .sf-note{color:#1C1A12}body.sfs .sf-mi .sf-note a{color:#0D5860}@media (max-width:760px){.sf-mi .sf-hero{clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 26px),0 100%);padding-bottom:58px}}
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 $159.99
Au Sable River 36 mi
Photo: Mtn-graphic, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Rifle River near Prescott, Arenac County 30 mi
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0 
Hubbard Lake 35 mi
Photo: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Lake Huron 41 mi
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Michigan inland lakes
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 $129.99
Tawas Lake Fishing
A 1,617-acre Michigan lake in Iosco County.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Au Sable River: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Iosco County
Tawas Lake for visiting anglers
EGLE mapping gives Tawas Lake 1,617 acres of surface water inside Iosco County. Base a trip in East Tawas, about 1 mile from the lake. MDNR biologists of the Southern Lake Huron unit cover it (Lower Peninsula). EPA ecoregion: Northern Lakes and Forests. Watershed: Southwestern Lake Huron-Lake Huron.
Boaters reach it through 1 public launch. In 2023, July to September imagery gave roughly 3.7 feet of clarity.
1,617acres
1public launches
3.7 ftsatellite clarity
Launches
Getting a boat onto Tawas Lake
- Tawas Lake Boat Access1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Tawas Point State Park
Other public launches near Tawas Lake
- Floyd Lake Boat AccessFloyd Lake, 9 miles west
- Lower Foote Dam Boat AccessAu Sable River, 9 miles north
- Au Sable River Mouth Boat AccessAu Sable River, 10 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
Satellite clarity readings for Tawas Lake
Clarity at Tawas Lake is estimated from summer Landsat scenes by EGLE.
EGLE put 2023 chlorophyll a at 18.38 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.
Regulations
Size and bag limits on Tawas 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 (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 |
For Tawas Lake, statewide inland limits for the Lower 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.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Compare
Lakes around Tawas Lake side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tawas Lake | 1,617 | 1 | 3.7 | 0 | |
| Round Lake, Iosco County | 9 miles west | 90 | 0 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Floyd Lake | 9 miles west | 41 | 1 | 10.6 | 0 |
| Sand Lake, Iosco County | 10 miles west | 245 | 0 | 9.7 | 0 |
| Foote Dam Pond | 10 miles north | 1,696 | 0 | 14.9 | 4 |
| Cooke Dam Pond | 12 miles northwest | 1,636 | 0 | 13.3 | 7 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
In the Tawas Lake area
More Michigan lakes by Tawas Lake
- Round Lake, Iosco County9 miles west
- Floyd Lake9 miles west
- Sand Lake, Iosco County10 miles west
- Foote Dam Pond10 miles north
- Cooke Dam Pond12 miles northwest
Stores that outfit Tawas Lake anglers
- Mars by the Baybait and tackle shop, East Tawas, 2 miles
- Jerry's Marinamarina, East Tawas, 4 miles
- Dam Storebait and tackle shop, Oscoda, 10 miles
- Northeast Michigan Marinemarina, Oscoda, 10 miles
- Wellmans Party & Baitbait and tackle shop, Oscoda, 10 miles
- Bunyan Town Marinamarina, Oscoda, 10 miles
Captains who run Tawas Lake
- Fin-Lander Sportfishing Charterscharter, Port Austin, (810) 404-1875
- Termar Charter Servicecharter, Au Gres, (989) 876-8318
- Thumbs Up Charter Servicescharter, Sebewaing, (810) 513-6073
- Trophy Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Port Austin, (989) 738-7603
Where to sleep for a trip to Tawas Lake
- East Tawas1 mile
- Tawas City3 miles
- Sand Lake9 miles
Tawas Lake county guides
- Iosco Countyseat: Tawas City
Piscifun
Reels and a weigh-scale grip for Tawas Lake
,_MI.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs
The shore near Tawas Lake through a lens
Photo: Mtn-graphic, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
_August_2021.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Asked and answered: fishing Tawas Lake
Where in Michigan does Tawas Lake lie?
Iosco County, Southern Lake Huron Management Unit, about 1 mile from East Tawas is where it sits.
What is the surface area of Tawas Lake in acres?
EGLE measures 1,617 acres.
Where is the ramp at Tawas Lake?
1 public launch, including Tawas Lake Boat Access.
Does Tawas Lake hold bluegill and other panfish?
MDNR publishes no fish list for it.
What size limits cover Tawas Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Does fishing Tawas 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 Tawas Lake have?
In 2023, about 3.7 feet.
Which Michigan bait counter is the shortest drive from Tawas Lake?
Closest on our list: Mars by the Bay at 2 miles.
Spend a morning casting Tawas Lake
Buy the all-species license before you leave home.