Best Lakes for Fishing in West Michigan
40 lakesA 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.
#18 fish species · boat launchLake Macatawa
#28 fish species · boat launchWabasis Lake
#38 fish species · boat launchPigeon Lake
#48 fish species · boat launchMurray Lake
- #58 fish species
Pickerel Lake
#68 fish speciesMona Lake
#78 fish speciesBrooks Lake
#88 fish speciesGreen Lake
#98 fish speciesRyerson Lake
#108 fish speciesHalf Moon Lake
#118 fish speciesKimball Lake
#128 fish speciesScram Lake
#138 fish speciesEmerald Lake
#148 fish speciesFremont Lake
- #158 fish species
Nichols Lake
#168 fish speciesPickerel Lake
#178 fish speciesDiamond Lake
#188 fish speciesMuskegon Lake
- #198 fish species
Half Moon Lake
#208 fish speciesHess Lake
#218 fish speciesMaston Lake
- #228 fish species
Baptist Lake
#238 fish speciesLilley Lake
#248 fish speciesEnglewright Lake
#258 fish speciesRobinson Lake
- #268 fish species
Railroad Lake
#278 fish speciesGun Lake
#288 fish speciesWhite Lake
#298 fish speciesLower Scott Lake
- #308 fish species
Mill Lake
#318 fish speciesSilver Lake
- #328 fish species
Silver Lake
- #338 fish species
Blanch Lake
#348 fish speciesUpper Scott Lake
#358 fish speciesSecond Lake
#368 fish speciesDeer Lake
- #376 fish species
Twin Lakes
#387 fish speciesPettit Lake
- #396 fish species
Twin Lakes
#407 fish speciesJohn Ford Lake
Explore West Michigan lakes another way
All West Michigan Lakes
Filter 420+ DNR lakes by fish, depth, motor rules, access.
All-Sports Lakes Closest to Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with no recorded Michigan DNR motor restriction (no no-wake or electric-only rule). Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
Most Affordable Lakefronts in West Michigan
Ranked by median lakefront home value (lowest first), from assessor data on parcels along each lake. Limited to lakes with at least eight lakefront parcels so a couple of low sales can’t skew the ranking.
Best Public-Access Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with a public boat launch or public access on the Michigan DNR record. Ranked by access type (boat launch first) and lake size.
West Michigan Lakes with Public Beaches
Includes lakes with a public beach on the Michigan DNR record. Ranked by lake size.
Quiet No-Wake Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with a Michigan DNR no-wake (or slow-speed) rule on record. Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
Deeded-Access Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes the Michigan DNR records as deeded-access — rights limited to owners whose deed grants them, often backlot homes in a platted subdivision. Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
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