Cass Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Cass Lake is mapped to a depth of 123 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 1,285 acres in Oakland County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 123 ft
- Mean depth
- 26.1 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 1,285 acres
- Estimated volume
- 33,471 acre-ft · 10,907M gal
- Shoreline
- 13.04 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 4% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
Additional depth details25 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–123 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 123 ft, 117 ft, 105 ft, 105 ft, 98 ft, 77 ft
53.3% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 40.9% is deeper than 20 ft; the survey shows 3 distinct basins. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 42.60587, -83.36998
- MI DNR lake ID
- L4664
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.6 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details2 rules
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Cass Lake has a substantially developed setting, notable open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Slow-no-wake zones.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 0.6 of 30 | 16% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (4% forest, 12% wetland; 76% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 6.8 of 25 | mean fetch 2,341 m · 3% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long fetch in some directions |
| Watercraft controls | Slow-no-wake zones | 10.2 of 15 | Restricted hours; Slow — no wake — designated zones only |
| Public access | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · carry-in launch · 4 ramp lanes · 85 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 442 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 30,819 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
- Low — approximately 4% 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
- Limited — 4% forest and 12% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking31 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Longnose Gar
Northern Pike
Common Carp
Bowfin
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Smallmouth Bass
Cisco
Brown Bullhead
Black Bullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Bullhead
Lake Chubsucker
Redear Sunfish
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Warmouth
Hybrid Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Longear Sunfish
Logperch
Bluntnose Minnow
Central Mudminnow
Spotfin Shiner
Tadpole Madtom
Blackchin Shiner
Iowa Darter
Sand ShinerHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Rainbow Trout (last planted 2009), Lake Trout (last planted 1999), Brown Trout (last planted 1986), Splake (last planted 1985) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 31 species found here — 31 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 · 1994–2025Trophy-size fish anglers caught here and registered with the DNR — what people have actually caught, distinct from what a survey netted or the state stocked below.
Catch details by species11 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (7) · live bait (5)
Method: spincasting (16) · still fishing (9) · ice fishing (4)
Fishery
DNR SFR 2020-295Gamefish Largemouth Bass 24 · Smallmouth Bass 17 · Walleye 16 · Bowfin 7
Panfish Bluegill 453 · Rock Bass 235 · Pumpkinseed 115
All survey species28 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–2025Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Complete stocking history6 older species
Non-native species records
6 recordsMussels & snails
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- European Water-clover
- Flowering Rush
- Starry Stonewort
- Yellow Floating-heart
Fish
- Common Carp
What does non-native mean?
USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.
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 fishingPrivate-State-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Beach, boat launch, concessions, picnic tables, swimming access
“This lake has big, weed beds next to deep water. There is also good ice fishing off the boat launch.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceCass Lake — common questions
How deep is Cass Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Cass Lake is 123 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 Cass Lake?
Cass Lake covers about 1,285 acres in Oakland County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Cass Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Cass Lake is 26.1 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Cass Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie. The page lists all 31 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Cass Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Cass Lake, including Dodge 4 State Park - Cass Lake.
