Maceday Lake

Oakland County, Michigan · MI DNR bathymetric survey

117ft Max
depth

462 acres 17 contours Public access

Paddling Index33Modest

Get directions

Depth scale

0524406080110117

The lake

Survey readout

Maceday Lake is mapped to a depth of 117 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 462 (includes connected waters) acres in Oakland County, Michigan.

Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.

Deepest sounding: 117 ft
Mean depth: 22.8 ft · estimated
Surface area: 462 acres · includes connected waters
Estimated volume: 10,539 acre-ft · 3,434M gal
Shoreline: 6.33 mi · irregular
Aquatic vegetation: 16% of surface · NDVI estimate
Public access: Boat Launch · Rec Passport

Additional depth details17 contours

Contour depths: 0–117 ft
Recorded point soundings: 117 ft, 65 ft, 42 ft

56.4% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 36.6% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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

Oakland County, Michigan · 15 nearest of 116 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: 42.69426, -83.42978
MI DNR lake ID: L5781
Vertical exaggeration: 1.4×
Basemap: USDA NAIP · public domain
Model size: 2.6 MB

Paddling

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

33 / 100ModestData confidence: High

Maceday Lake has a substantially developed setting, moderate 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	0.6 of 30	26% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (8% forest, 17% wetland; 66% developed)
Geometric wind exposure	Good	11.5 of 25	mean fetch 1,476 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch
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 · 15 trailer spaces
Road isolation	Modest	0.8 of 15	substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 192 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 34,492 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: Moderate — approximately 16% 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 — 8% forest and 17% 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

11 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

Common Carp

Lake Troutstocked

Walleye

Rainbow Troutstocked

Splake

Smallmouth Bass

Menominee Whitefish

Crappie

Bluegill

Rock Bass

Historically stocked, no recent evidence: Lake Whitefish (last planted 2003), Brown Trout (last planted 1991) — not shown above.

Fishing rules for this lake Beta

Size and daily limits for the 11 species found here — 11 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).

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

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

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

CrappieOpen 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).

Lake TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 8" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-254 · Type C) Five (5) trout, except that the daily possession limit shall not include more than three (3) trout 15 inches or greater.

Menominee WhitefishOpen 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.

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

Rainbow TroutOpen to harvestMinimum size: 8" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-254 · Type C) Five (5) trout, except that the daily possession limit shall not include more than three (3) trout 15 inches or greater.

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: 8" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-254 · Type C) Five (5) trout, except that the daily possession limit shall not include more than three (3) trout 15 inches or greater.

WalleyeOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 5 (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.

18Catches recorded

9Species

Smallmouth Bass6 recorded · to 22.1″

Crappie2 recorded · to 14.2″

Rock Bass2 recorded · to 12.6″

Splake2 recorded · to 28.5″

Catch details by species9 species

Smallmouth Bass6 recorded · to 22.1″ · latest 2025

Crappie2 recorded · to 14.2″ · latest 2025

Rock Bass2 recorded · to 12.6″ · latest 2025

Splake2 recorded · to 28.5″ · latest 2022

Walleye2 recorded · to 32″ · latest 2015

Bluegill1 recorded · to 12″ · latest 2002

Common Carp1 recorded · to 31″ · latest 2012

Menominee Whitefish1 recorded · to 19.5″ · latest 1994

Northern Pike1 recorded · to 41″ · latest 2002

Biggest on record

Northern Pike41″ · 2002 · ice fishing · shiner

Walleye32″ · 1996 · ice fishing · shiner on tip-up

Common Carp31″ · 2012 · still fishing · corn

Walleye30″ · 2015 · trolling

Splake28.5″ · 2005 · ice fishing · minnow

Bait: artificial lure (5) · combination (1)
Method: spincasting (8) · ice fishing (4) · trolling (3)

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.

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.

Splake480,895 stocked · 1981–2026 · 47 plantings

Rainbow trout577,692 stocked · 1979–2022 · 52 plantings

Lake trout16,822 stocked · 1994–2021 · 23 plantings

Complete stocking history3 older species

Lake whitefish50 stocked · 2003

Walleye144,336 stocked · 1983–1995 · 13 plantings

Brown trout10,287 stocked · 1991

Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database.

Non-native species records

6 records

Mussels & snails

Zebra Mussel

Plants & algae

Curly-leaf Pondweed
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Flowering Rush
Starry Stonewort

Fish

Common Carp

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

🏖 Beach / swim area≈0.3 mi

🎢 Playground≈0.1 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

The Bait Shop LLC≈1.8 mi2574 AirPort Rd, Waterford · Google · Apple

Jay's Big Bass Outdoors Inc≈3.1 mi4250 Dixie Hwy, Waterford · Google · Apple

Lakeview Party Store & Pizza≈6.1 mi990 S Cass Lake Rd, Waterford · 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

Maceday Lake — common questions

How deep is Maceday Lake?

The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Maceday Lake is 117 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 Maceday Lake?

Maceday Lake covers about 462 acres in Oakland County, Michigan.

What is the average depth of Maceday Lake?

The estimated mean depth of Maceday Lake is 22.8 ft, calculated from the survey contours.

What fish are in Maceday Lake?

Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include lake trout, northern pike, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, splake, walleye. The page lists all 11 species and the evidence behind each.

Is there public access to Maceday Lake?

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