Lake Macatawa
depth
Get directions
Depth scale
Survey readout
Lake Macatawa is mapped to a depth of 40 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 1,826 acres in Ottawa County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 40 ft
- Mean depth
- 11.4 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 1,826 acres
- Estimated volume
- 20,884 acre-ft · 6,805M gal
- Shoreline
- 16.89 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details5 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–40 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 40 ft
41.5% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 19.6% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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.
⚠ 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
- 42.78241, -86.16133
- MI DNR lake ID
- L28427
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.32×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details4 rules
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Lake Macatawa has a substantially developed setting, moderate 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 | 7% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (4% forest, 2% wetland; 77% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 7.9 of 25 | mean fetch 2,111 m · 2% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | Slow-no-wake zones | 10.2 of 15 | Slow — no wake — designated zones only; Speed limit — designated zones only; Local control — designated zones only |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 2 sites with DNR boating-facility records · 9 ramp lanes · 234 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 717 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 29,371 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 0% 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 2% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking26 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
Chinook Salmon
Flathead Catfish
Northern Pike
Common Carp
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Lake Trout
Walleye
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Redhorse Sucker
Freshwater Drum
Lake Whitefish
Largemouth Bassstocked
White Sucker
Quillback
Gizzard Shad
White Bass
Bullhead
Crappie
Redear Sunfish
White Perch
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Green SunfishHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1987) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 26 species found here — 24 open to harvest, 2 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.
Official rule text for this lake
“the minimum size limit for Muskellunge is 46-inches.” — FO-206
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 species25 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (126) · live bait (59)
Method: spincasting (242) · trolling (163) · still fishing (135)
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.
Non-native species records
8 recordsMussels & snails
- Mud Bithynia
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Curly-leaf Pondweed
Other invertebrates
- Red Swamp Crayfish
Fish
- Flathead Catfish
- White Perch
- White Perch × Striped Bass
- Wiper
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 fishingCounty-managed · Free · Rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Animal-friendly, picnic tables, walking trails
“The edge of Lake Macatawa and the channel connecting to Lake Michigan.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceLake Macatawa — common questions
How deep is Lake Macatawa?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Macatawa is 40 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 Lake Macatawa?
Lake Macatawa covers about 1,826 acres in Ottawa County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Lake Macatawa?
The estimated mean depth of Lake Macatawa is 11.4 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Lake Macatawa?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include brown trout, channel catfish, chinook salmon, flathead catfish, lake trout, lake whitefish. The page lists all 26 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Macatawa?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 3 public access sites on Lake Macatawa, including Kollen Park.
