Derby Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Derby Lake is mapped to a depth of 87 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 112 acres in Montcalm County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 87 ft
- Mean depth
- 32.1 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 112 acres
- Estimated volume
- 3,593 acre-ft · 1,171M gal
- Shoreline
- 1.9 mi · lobed
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details12 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–87 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 87 ft
36.3% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 52% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 43.27414, -85.12827
- MI DNR lake ID
- L1862
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details1 rule
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Derby Lake has a substantially developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, some nearby classified roads. Watercraft controls: Restricted hours.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 0.6 of 30 | 22% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (3% forest, 17% wetland; 50% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 18.9 of 25 | mean fetch 725 m · 1% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch |
| Watercraft controls | Restricted hours | 9.3 of 15 | Restricted hours |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 9 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Good | 7.2 of 15 | some nearby classified roads · 31 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,437 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 2% 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 — 3% forest and 17% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking7 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Bullhead
Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock BassHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Rainbow Trout (last planted 1995) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 7 species found here — 7 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 · 2006–2025Trophy-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 species7 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (3) · live bait (3) · minnow (2)
Method: spincasting (4) · still fishing (3) · ice fishing (2) · trolling (1)
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–1995Fish 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
1 recordMussels & snails
- Zebra Mussel
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.
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceDerby Lake — common questions
How deep is Derby Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Derby Lake is 87 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 Derby Lake?
Derby Lake covers about 112 acres in Montcalm County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Derby Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Derby Lake is 32.1 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Derby Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie, rock bass. The page lists all 7 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Derby Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Derby Lake, including Derby Lake.
