Best Lakes for Fishing in West Michigan

40 lakes

A lake’s fishing comes down to what swims in it and whether you can get a boat on the water. This ranks West Michigan’s Michigan-DNR-registered lakes by the number of fish species on record, with a bump for lakes deep enough to hold fish year-round and those with a public boat launch.

How we ranked: Ranked by number of fish species on the Michigan DNR record, plus a bonus for a public boat launch and for a max depth of 15 ft or more. Limited to lakes with at least three recorded species.

← All 420+ West Michigan lakes

  1. Lake Macatawa
    #18 fish species · boat launch

    Lake Macatawa

  2. Wabasis Lake
    #28 fish species · boat launch

    Wabasis Lake

  3. Murray Lake
    #38 fish species · boat launch

    Murray Lake

  4. Pigeon Lake
    #48 fish species · boat launch

    Pigeon Lake

  5. #58 fish species

    Pickerel Lake

  6. Ryerson Lake
    #68 fish species

    Ryerson Lake

  7. Green Lake
    #78 fish species

    Green Lake

  8. Half Moon Lake
    #88 fish species

    Half Moon Lake

  9. Brooks Lake
    #98 fish species

    Brooks Lake

  10. Maston Lake
    #108 fish species

    Maston Lake

  11. Fremont Lake
    #118 fish species

    Fremont Lake

  12. Emerald Lake
    #128 fish species

    Emerald Lake

  13. Scram Lake
    #138 fish species

    Scram Lake

  14. #148 fish species

    Nichols Lake

  15. Pickerel Lake
    #158 fish species

    Pickerel Lake

  16. Diamond Lake
    #168 fish species

    Diamond Lake

  17. #178 fish species

    Baptist Lake

  18. Kimball Lake
    #188 fish species

    Kimball Lake

  19. Lilley Lake
    #198 fish species

    Lilley Lake

  20. Robinson Lake
    #208 fish species

    Robinson Lake

  21. Mona Lake
    #218 fish species

    Mona Lake

  22. Muskegon Lake
    #228 fish species

    Muskegon Lake

  23. Hess Lake
    #238 fish species

    Hess Lake

  24. Englewright Lake
    #248 fish species

    Englewright Lake

  25. #258 fish species

    Half Moon Lake

  26. #268 fish species

    Railroad Lake

  27. Gun Lake
    #278 fish species

    Gun Lake

  28. Lower Scott Lake
    #288 fish species

    Lower Scott Lake

  29. White Lake
    #298 fish species

    White Lake

  30. #308 fish species

    Mill Lake

  31. Silver Lake
    #318 fish species

    Silver Lake

  32. Upper Scott Lake
    #328 fish species

    Upper Scott Lake

  33. #338 fish species

    Blanch Lake

  34. #348 fish species

    Silver Lake

  35. Second Lake
    #358 fish species

    Second Lake

  36. Deer Lake
    #368 fish species

    Deer Lake

  37. #376 fish species

    Twin Lakes

  38. Pettit Lake
    #387 fish species

    Pettit Lake

  39. #396 fish species

    Twin Lakes

  40. John Ford Lake
    #407 fish species

    John Ford Lake

Best Lakes for Fishing in West Michigan: Frequently Asked

How many lakes are on this list?
We rank 40 West Michigan lakes here. Ranked by number of fish species on the Michigan DNR record, plus a bonus for a public boat launch and for a max depth of 15 ft or more. Limited to lakes with at least three recorded species.
Which lakes rank highest?
Lake Macatawa, Wabasis Lake, Murray Lake lead the list. Lake Macatawa ranks #1 (8 fish species · boat launch).
What do lakefront homes cost on these lakes?
Across the 40 lakes on this list, the typical lakefront home value is about $510,475, though prices vary widely by lake and frontage.

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