Hamlin Lake
depth
Get directions
Depth scale
Survey readout
Hamlin Lake is mapped to a depth of 65 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 4,955 acres in Mason 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 mapped contour
- 65 ft
- Mean depth
- 14.3 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 4,955 acres
- Estimated volume
- 70,747 acre-ft · 23,053M gal
- Shoreline
- 35.62 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 9% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details4 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–65 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 65 ft
Other waters with a public launch on this map: Hackert Lake. Their launches are not marked on the model — only Hamlin Lake’s own are.
49% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 27% is deeper than 20 ft; the survey shows 2 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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.
⚠ Not for navigationSpot 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
- 44.05451, -86.44482
- MI DNR lake ID
- L18835
- Vertical exaggeration
- 8.36× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.1 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details1 rule
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Hamlin Lake has a partly natural setting, long open-water fetch, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Speed-limit zones.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Good | 17.7 of 30 | 64% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (44% forest, 19% wetland; 16% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 25 | mean fetch 3,902 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | Speed-limit zones | 9.0 of 15 | Speed limit — designated zones only |
| Public access | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · carry-in launch · 2 ramp lanes · 44 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 1.3 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 125 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 4,690 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 9% 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 — 44% forest and 19% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking27 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Muskellunge
Tiger Muskellunge
Flathead Catfish
Longnose Gar
Northern Pike
Common Carp
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Walleye
Redhorse Sucker
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Quillback
Smallmouth Bass
Brown BullheadBullhead
Black Bullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Bullhead
Redear Sunfish
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Hybrid Sunfishstocked
PumpkinseedFishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 27 species found here — 26 open to harvest, 1 with a special rule or closed season.
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 species22 species
Biggest on record
Bait: live bait (76) · night crawler (74) · artificial lure (37)
Method: still fishing (240) · spincasting (75) · drift fishing (36) · trolling (30)
Fishery
DNR SFR 2012-132Gamefish Bowfin 23 · Channel Catfish 16 · Smallmouth Bass 4 · Largemouth Bass 3
Panfish Bluegill 27 · Rock Bass 15 · Pumpkinseed 10
All survey species20 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–2026Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Complete stocking history3 older species
Non-native species records
3 recordsMussels & snails
- Zebra Mussel
Fish
- Flathead Catfish
- Round Goby
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 fishingState (Ludington State Park)-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Modern & rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Boat launch, grills, picnic tables, camping, swimming beach, hiking trails, biking trails, canoe trails
“Hamlin Lake is a natural lake that is enlarged by Hamlin Dam. This site offers an accessible fishing pier in addition wade/shore fishing opportunities on several miles of shoreline,”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceHamlin Lake — common questions
How deep is Hamlin Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Hamlin Lake is 65 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 Hamlin Lake?
Hamlin Lake covers about 4,955 acres in Mason County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Hamlin Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Hamlin Lake is 14.3 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Hamlin Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass. The page lists all 27 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Hamlin Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 2 public access sites on Hamlin Lake, including Hamlin Lake.
