Muskegon Lake
depth
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Depth scale
The state-record Freshwater Drum — 28.61 lb — was caught here in 2015. 34.02″
Survey readout
Muskegon Lake is mapped to a depth of 66 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 4,259 acres in Muskegon 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
- 66 ft
- Mean depth
- 22.6 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 4,259 acres
- Estimated volume
- 96,034 acre-ft · 31,293M gal
- Shoreline
- 34.24 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details7 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–66 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 66 ft
30.9% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 52.5% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 43.23861, -86.28089
- MI DNR lake ID
- L23027
- Vertical exaggeration
- 5.23× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Muskegon Lake has a substantially developed setting, long open-water fetch, 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 | 17% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (3% forest, 10% wetland; 56% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.4 of 25 | mean fetch 4,092 m · 4% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long 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 | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | 5 sites with DNR boating-facility records · carry-in launch · 26 ramp lanes · 171 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 841 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 26,642 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 2% 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 — 3% forest and 10% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking37 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Lake Sturgeon
Muskellunge
Chinook Salmon
Flathead Catfish
Longnose Gar
Northern Pike
Common Carp
Atlantic Salmon
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Coho Salmon
Walleye
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
RedhorseRedhorse Sucker
Freshwater Drum
Lake Whitefish
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Quillback
Smallmouth Bass
Menominee Whitefish
Cisco
Gizzard Shad
White Bass
BullheadBullhead Species
Black CrappieCrappie
White Perch
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
Green SunfishFishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 37 species found here — 34 open to harvest, 3 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 species34 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (237) · live bait (138)
Method: spincasting (344) · bowfishing (303) · trolling (282) · still fishing (270)
Fishery
Gamefish Walleye 146 · Bowfin 92 · Channel Catfish 42 · Flathead Catfish 40
Panfish Yellow Perch 21 · Bluegill 16 · Black Crappie 11
All survey species28 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–2025Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Non-native species records
15 recordsMussels & snails
- Mud Bithynia
- Quagga Mussel
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Common Reed
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Narrow-leaved Cattail
- Purple Loosestrife
- Starry Stonewort
Other invertebrates
- Bloody Red Shrimp
- Fishhook Waterflea
- Opossum Shrimp
- Scud
Fish
- Flathead Catfish
- Grass Carp (diploid)
- 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-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Modern restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Fish cleaning station, swimming, hiking, beach, boat launch, picnic tables
“Muskegon Lake snug harbor site includes a multiple lane boat launch and a fishing pier. There is also some shorefishing onsite. Channel campground has excellent fishing pier access to the Muskegon Lake channel between Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan. Best for bass with some other species like walleye and northern pike on occasion.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceMuskegon Lake — common questions
How deep is Muskegon Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Muskegon Lake is 66 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 Muskegon Lake?
Muskegon Lake covers about 4,259 acres in Muskegon County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Muskegon Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Muskegon Lake is 22.6 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Muskegon Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include atlantic salmon, brown trout, channel catfish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, flathead catfish. The page lists all 37 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Muskegon Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 5 public access sites on Muskegon Lake, including Hartshorn Municipal Marina.
