Bishop Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Bishop Lake is mapped to a depth of 54 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 110 acres in Livingston County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey (depths read from the survey's isobath field; this lake's summary-depth column is blank in the source).
- Deepest sounding
- 54 ft
- Mean depth
- 8 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 110 acres
- Estimated volume
- 873 acre-ft · 284M gal
- Shoreline
- 2.61 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 19% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Trophic state
- Mesotrophic · satellite estimate · readings disagree · details
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
- In
- Brighton Recreation Area · Michigan DNR
Additional depth details10 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–54 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 54 ft, 41 ft, 15 ft
75.5% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 11.1% is deeper than 20 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.
Compare with another lakeProvenance
Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.
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Map details & sources5 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 42.50024, -83.84497
- MI DNR lake ID
- L7458
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.84×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Lake productivity & trophic state
Satellite estimateSatellite-estimated classification: Mesotrophic. Moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity. Based on satellite estimates of summer chlorophyll-a (LAGOS-US LANDSAT, 2020). No lake-specific measurement is available in this dataset.Field and satellite readings disagree for this lake: a Secchi disk water-clarity reading of 12 ft was recorded in 2007, while the satellite estimate is 9.4 ft. Treat the satellite-estimated classification with caution.
Trophic state describes how biologically productive a lake is, based on indicators such as nutrients, algae and water clarity. It is not a swimming-safety or overall water-quality rating.
What do the categories mean?
- Oligotrophic≤ 2 µg/L · lower nutrient and algae levels, often clearer water and lower biological productivity.
- Mesotrophic · this lake2–7 µg/L · moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity.
- Eutrophic7–30 µg/L · higher nutrient levels and biological productivity, often with more algae or aquatic plant growth.
- Hypereutrophic> 30 µg/L · very high nutrient levels and biological productivity, with a greater potential for heavy algae growth and low water clarity.
Bands are summer (June–August) mean chlorophyll-a, the green pigment in algae, at the EPA 2012 National Lakes Assessment thresholds. Trophic condition can change over time and by measurement method. Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; satellite chlorophyll-a estimates from LAGOS-US LANDSAT.
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details1 rule
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-23Bishop Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, well sheltered geometry, nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Whole-lake slow-no-wake.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 24.6 of 30 | 80% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (29% forest, 51% wetland; 7% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 23.2 of 25 | mean fetch 529 m · 42% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| Watercraft controls | Whole-lake slow-no-wake | 13.8 of 15 | Slow — no wake |
| Public access | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · carry-in launch · 1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 6.2 of 15 | nearby higher-volume roads · 15 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 11,215 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Moderate — approximately 19% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 29% forest and 51% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking4 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
About these fish → the Fish of Michigan guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 4 species found here — 4 open to harvest.
These are hook-and-line size, daily limit and season rules. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, spawning closures and rod limits are set by other Fisheries Orders and are not shown here.
From FO-206.26 (eff. 2026-04-01) / FO-215.23A (eff. 2023-09-15) / FO-254.25 (eff. 2025-10-10), checked against the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest · verified 2026-09-15. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 2008–2025Master Angler catches recorded on this lake — too few to show a pattern, so they are listed individually.
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1992–1995Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
No stockings recorded since 1995 — shown as history.
Non-native species records
No non-native species recorded in the available dataset. This does not confirm that no non-native species are present.
Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
Public fishing access
MI DNR family-friendly fishingState-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Modern & rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Animal-friendly, beach, boat launch, boat rental, camping, grills, picnic tables, playground, shelter, swimming access, walking trails
“Fishing from dedicated pier as well a good shore access around the lake. Try the shore south of the beach.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceBishop Lake — common questions
How deep is Bishop Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Bishop Lake is 54 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Bishop Lake?
Bishop Lake covers about 110 acres in Livingston County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Bishop Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Bishop Lake is 8 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Bishop Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, bowfin, crappie, redear sunfish. The page shows the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Bishop Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Bishop Lake, including Bishop Lake Campground.
