Glen Lake

Leelanau County, Michigan · MI DNR bathymetric survey

130ft Max
depth

5,097 acres 8 contours Public access 60% weedy

Paddling Index43Modestslow-no-wake zones

Get directions

Depth scale

0515255075100125130

The lake

Survey readout

Glen Lake is mapped to a depth of 130 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 5,097 acres in Leelanau County, Michigan.

Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.

Deepest sounding: 130 ft
Mean depth: 70.9 ft · estimated
Surface area: 5,097 acres
Estimated volume: 361,500 acre-ft · 117,795M gal
Shoreline: 10.92 mi · round
Aquatic vegetation: 60% of surface · NDVI estimate
Public access: Boat Launch

Additional depth details8 contours

Contour depths: 0–130 ft
Recorded point soundings: 130 ft

16.9% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 73.4% is deeper than 20 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.

Compare with another lake

Location

Leelanau County, Michigan · all 12 lakes · tap a dot for that lake

Chart data

Provenance

Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.

⚠ Not for navigation

Spot an error? Send a correction

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: 44.87038, -85.96531
MI DNR lake ID: L42876
Vertical exaggeration: 4.24× below the waterline; land at true scale
Basemap: USDA NAIP · public domain
Model size: 2.3 MB

Watercraft rules

county-enforced local controls · MI DNR

Slow — no wakedesignated zones

Official rule details1 rule

Slow — no wake“Slow-- no wake speed”

Where the mapped control areas and the official regulation language differ, the language governs. Official county watercraft controls.

Paddling

Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21

43 / 100ModestData confidence: High

Glen Lake has a partly natural setting, long open-water fetch, 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	Good	15.1 of 30	61% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (38% forest, 9% wetland; 25% developed)
Geometric wind exposure	Modest	1.2 of 25	mean fetch 4,313 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water fetch
Watercraft controls	Slow-no-wake zones	10.2 of 15	Slow — no wake — designated zones only
Public access	Good	12.8 of 15	1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 2 ramp lanes · 20 trailer spaces
Road isolation	Mixed	3.7 of 15	nearby higher-volume roads · 48 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 2,633 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: High — approximately 60% 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: Moderate — 38% forest and 9% wetland cover within 150 m of shore

Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →

How this index is calculated. The Paddling Index is a relative composite derived from lake geometry and public environmental, access, roadway and watercraft-control data. It is not a user review, a safety rating, or a prediction of an individual outing. Differences of a few points should not be treated as meaningful — an 84 and an 82 are broadly comparable. Components and weights: natural setting 30%, geometric wind exposure 25%, watercraft controls 15%, public access 15%, road isolation 15%; observed motorboat activity is weighted 0% because no defensible lake-level measurement exists. Where a component has no data the remaining weights are renormalized and the confidence rating is lowered; below Medium confidence no number is shown. Sources: MI DNR Boating Access Sites (2026-08), MI DNR Watercraft Control Areas (2026-08), USGS/MRLC NLCD Land Cover (2021), MDOT Annual Average Daily Traffic (2025) and MI DNR bathymetric survey outline (0 ft isobath). Conditions change quickly — check current weather and local conditions before going out.

Fish you might catch

from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking

16 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).

Northern Pike

Channel Catfish

Lake Trout

Brown Trout

Rainbow Trout

Splake

Largemouth Bass

White Sucker

Smallmouth Bass

Cisco

Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Bluegill

Rock Bass

Pumpkinseed

Rainbow Smelt

Fishing rules for this lake Beta

Size and daily limits for the 16 species found here — 16 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.

BluegillOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Brown TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 3 (FO-254 · Type E) Three (3) trout.

Beta. This panel is newly published. Every value is parsed from the Michigan DNR fisheries orders and hand-checked against the printed digest, but the coverage and wording are still under review. If anything here disagrees with the Michigan DNR's Fisheries Orders or its printed digest, the DNR is right — the signed Fisheries Order is the legal text; the digest summarises it.

Designated Type E trout lake — season open for the entire year; tackle: all types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used.

Brown TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 3 (FO-254 · Type E) Three (3) trout.

BullheadOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no possession limit (2026 DNR digest · all other species)

Channel CatfishOpen to harvestMinimum size: 12" · Daily limit: 10 (FO-215 · statewide inland)

CiscoOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 5 in any combination (2026 DNR digest · Cisco/Whitefish (NOTE 7)) 5 in any combination of Cisco, Lake Whitefish and Round Whitefish on inland waters; 10 on the Great Lakes, connecting waters and Type F lakes.

Lake TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 3 (FO-254 · Type E) Three (3) trout.

Largemouth BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: 14" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 5 is in any combination of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, not 5 of each (FO-215.23A).

Northern PikeOpen to harvestMinimum size: 24" · Daily limit: 2 (FO-215 · statewide inland)

PumpkinseedOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Rainbow SmeltOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 2 gallons (2026 DNR digest · Smelt) See the digest's General Netting Regulations table for netting.

Rainbow TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 3 (FO-254 · Type E) Three (3) trout.

Rock BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Smallmouth BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: 14" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 5 is in any combination of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, not 5 of each (FO-215.23A).

SplakeOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 3 (FO-254 · Type E) Three (3) trout.

White SuckerOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no possession limit (2026 DNR digest · all other species)

Yellow PerchOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland)

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

Compiled from registered Master Angler catches, Michigan DNR fishery surveys and Michigan DNR stockings within the last 10 years. Silhouettes are stylized and scaled to typical adult sizes relative to one another. Presence is not a promise — fishing isn’t a sure thing.

Notable catches

Master Angler program · 1994–2025

Trophy-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.

49Catches recorded

11Species

Smallmouth Bass14 recorded · to 23.4″

Rock Bass12 recorded · to 13.5″

Lake Trout10 recorded · to 46.5″

Yellow Perch3 recorded · to 14.9″

Catch details by species11 species

Smallmouth Bass14 recorded · to 23.4″ · latest 2019

Rock Bass12 recorded · to 13.5″ · latest 2025

Lake Trout10 recorded · to 46.5″ · latest 2024

Yellow Perch3 recorded · to 14.9″ · latest 2019

Bluegill2 recorded · to 10.3″ · latest 2001

Bullhead2 recorded · to 14.6″ · latest 2011

Northern Pike2 recorded · to 42″ · latest 2015

Brown Trout1 recorded · to 33″ · latest 1995

Cisco1 recorded · to 16.2″ · latest 2022

Pumpkinseed1 recorded · to 9.2″ · latest 1997

Splake1 recorded · to 28.5″ · latest 2002

Biggest on record

Lake Trout46.5″ · 2000 · trolling

Northern Pike42″ · 2015 · spincasting

Northern Pike40″ · 2015 · spincasting

Lake Trout40″ · 2002 · trolling

Lake Trout39.5″ · 2004 · ice fishing · wiggler

Bait: artificial lure (5) · minnow (5) · live bait (3)
Method: trolling (16) · spincasting (15) · still fishing (10) · ice fishing (5)

Master Angler entries are fish that met the program’s minimum size and were registered by the angler — they show what this lake has produced, not what a day here will produce. A catch on record is history, not a species listing: “Fish you might catch” lists only species with current evidence. Source: Michigan DNR Master Angler data.

Fishery

DNR SFR 2010-100

10,029Fish sampled

18Species

Gamefish Rainbow Trout 89 · Smallmouth Bass 79 · Largemouth Bass 79 · Lake Trout 23

Panfish Rock Bass 1,158 · Bluegill 311 · Yellow Perch 243

All survey species12 species

Gamefish

Rainbow Trout89 caught

Smallmouth Bass79 caught

Largemouth Bass79 caught

Lake Trout23 caught

Northern Pike12 caught

Channel Catfish1 caught

Panfish

Rock Bass1,158 caught

Bluegill311 caught

Yellow Perch243 caught

Forage & nongame

White Sucker95 caught

Rainbow Smelt58 caught

Cisco19 caught

Stocking: Stocking History Stocking in the Glen Lake watershed has been primary in Glen Lake, though periodic stockings have occurred in some of the other lakes as well.

This survey reported catch counts without lengths. Source: Michigan DNR Status of the Fishery Resource report (counts summed across survey years).

DNR stocking

state stocking record · 1979–2026

Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.

Rainbow trout1,024,712 stocked · 1983–2026 · 57 plantings

Lake trout683,226 stocked · 1979–2026 · 40 plantings

Brown trout259,148 stocked · 1985–1997 · 20 plantings

Splake365,748 stocked · 1981–1995 · 21 plantings

Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database.

Non-native species records

3 records

Mussels & snails

Zebra Mussel

Plants & algae

Curly-leaf Pondweed

Fish

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 distance

⛻ Campground≈1.3 mi

🚿 Restrooms / vault toilet≈0.2 mi · 3 mapped

🏖 Beach / swim area≈0.2 mi

🎢 Playgroundon the lake · 4 mapped

🥾 Hiking trailhead≈1.2 mi · 2 mapped

From OpenStreetMap community mapping — shown only where something is mapped; an amenity missing here may still exist. Distances are straight-line. Verify before you rely on it. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Bait & tackle nearby

licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distance

Cedar Hardware≈8.5 mi8925 S Kassan St, Cedar · Google · Apple

Long Lake Grocery≈13 mi9352 N Long Lake Rd, Traverse City · Google · Apple

Lake Leelanau Narrows Resort≈14.5 mi · (231) 994-2108201 S St Marys St, Lake Leelanau · Google · Apple

Dealers licensed by the Michigan DNR to sell live bait; listing is not an endorsement. Distances are straight-line, not driving — and call ahead: hours and stock change. Source: Michigan DNR retail bait dealer data.

Quick answers

Glen Lake — common questions

How deep is Glen Lake?

The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Glen Lake is 130 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 Glen Lake?

Glen Lake covers about 5,097 acres in Leelanau County, Michigan.

What is the average depth of Glen Lake?

The estimated mean depth of Glen Lake is 70.9 ft, calculated from the survey contours.

What fish are in Glen Lake?

Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include brown trout, channel catfish, lake trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, rainbow trout. The page lists all 16 species and the evidence behind each.

Is there public access to Glen Lake?

Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Glen Lake, including Glen Lake.