Bright Lake
depth
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Survey readout
Bright Lake is mapped to a depth of 37 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 6.6 acres in Crawford County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 37 ft
- Mean depth
- 19.8 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 6.6 acres
- Estimated volume
- 130 acre-ft · 42M gal
- Shoreline
- 0.41 mi · round
- Aquatic vegetation
- 13% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
- In
- Hartwick Pines State Park · 9,243 ac
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–37 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 37 ft
27.7% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 54.8% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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. Colour shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 44.72953, -84.68482
- MI DNR lake ID
- L8974
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.42×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 0.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Bright Lake has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, well sheltered geometry, some nearby classified roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Very Good | 22.1 of 30 | 79% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (47% forest, 32% wetland; 20% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 25.0 of 25 | mean fetch 176 m · 100% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 2 sites with DNR boating-facility records · 2 ramp lanes · 2 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Good | 8.6 of 15 | some nearby classified roads · 2 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,370 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
- High — narrow throughout — passing wakes would reach most of the water
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 13% 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 — 47% forest and 32% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking3 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Rainbow Troutstocked
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid SunfishstockedFishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 3 species found here — 3 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 2026-08-24. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 2009–2011Master Angler catches recorded on this lake — too few to show a pattern, so they are listed individually.
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1980–2026Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
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 · Rustic restrooms · Dirt parking
Amenities: Animal-friendly, boat launch
“Both lakes have floating piers in which fishing is made convenient. There are boat launch ramps located on both lakes for those who have watercraft. These lakes are called Kettle Lakes as they are shaped like tea kettles. They are roundish and deep in the center (more than 40 feet). The lake bottom is marl, so wading and swimming are prohibited as people would sink in the marl.”
Bait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceBright Lake — common questions
How deep is Bright Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Bright Lake is 37 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 Bright Lake?
Bright Lake covers about 6.6 acres in Crawford County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Bright Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Bright Lake is 19.8 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Bright Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, rainbow trout, hybrid sunfish. The page shows the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Bright Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Bright Lake, including Bright Lake.
