Lake Mitchell
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Lake Mitchell is mapped to a depth of 22 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 2,546 acres in Wexford County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 22 ft
- Mean depth
- 8.5 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 2,546 acres
- Estimated volume
- 21,537 acre-ft · 7,018M gal
- Shoreline
- 12.11 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details7 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–22 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 22 ft, 6 ft
Other waters with a public launch on this map: Lake Cadillac. Their launches are not marked on the model — only Lake Mitchell’s own are.
56.3% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 1.5% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 44.24603, -85.48219
- MI DNR lake ID
- L17376
- Vertical exaggeration
- 7.33× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Lake Mitchell has a substantially developed setting, notable open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 4.5 of 30 | 30% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (6% forest, 22% wetland; 34% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 3.0 of 25 | mean fetch 3,372 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long fetch in some directions |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 2 ramp lanes · 24 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 96 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 12,738 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 1% 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 — 6% forest and 22% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking16 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
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Walleye
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Bullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Warmouth
Hybrid Sunfish
PumpkinseedFishing 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.
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 species15 species
Biggest on record
Bait: minnow (32) · live bait (22) · crawler (17)
Method: still fishing (94) · spincasting (64) · ice fishing (20) · drift fishing (11)
Fishery
surveyed 2012 · DNR SFR 2012-150Gamefish Largemouth Bass 1,425 · Northern Pike 1,353 · Smallmouth Bass 511
Panfish Black Crappie 737 · Bluegill 442 · Yellow Perch 141
All survey species9 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1993–2026Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Non-native species records
6 recordsMussels & snails
- Banded Mysterysnail
- Chinese Mysterysnail
- Freshwater Golden Clam
Plants & algae
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Itadori Knotweed
- Purple Loosestrife
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 (Mitchell State Park)-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Modern and rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Swimming beach, boat launch, camping, equipment rental, grills, picnic tables, playground, shelter, swimming access, hiking trails, water pump
“Site offers pier/shore angling on Lake Mitchell and the canal connecting lakes Mitchell and Cadillac. This site also offers a boat launch.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceLake Mitchell — common questions
How deep is Lake Mitchell?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Mitchell is 22 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 Mitchell?
Lake Mitchell covers about 2,546 acres in Wexford County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Lake Mitchell?
The estimated mean depth of Lake Mitchell is 8.5 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Lake Mitchell?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie. The page lists all 16 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Mitchell?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 3 public access sites on Lake Mitchell, including Hemlock.
