Otsego Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Otsego Lake is mapped to a depth of 23 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 2,019 acres in Otsego County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 23 ft
- Mean depth
- 10.3 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 2,019 acres
- Estimated volume
- 20,687 acre-ft · 6,741M gal
- Shoreline
- 12.57 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–23 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 23 ft, 23 ft, 13 ft
43.3% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 1% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 44.95157, -84.69263
- MI DNR lake ID
- L6888
- Vertical exaggeration
- 12.0× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Otsego 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 | 4.8 of 30 | 38% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (25% forest, 12% wetland; 47% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 2.5 of 25 | mean fetch 3,530 m · 0% 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 | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 2 ramp lanes · 46 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 189 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 17,505 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 — 25% forest and 12% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking22 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
Northern Pike
Carp
Walleye
Greater Redhorse
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Smallmouth Bass
Brown BullheadBullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Bluntnose Minnow
Emerald Shiner
Johnny DarterHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1991) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 22 species found here — 21 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 species14 species
Biggest on record
Bait: live bait (82) · artificial lure (37)
Method: spincasting (78) · still fishing (76) · trolling (35) · ice fishing (25)
Fishery
Gamefish Walleye 116 · Smallmouth Bass 33 · Northern Pike 29 · Largemouth Bass 12
Panfish Yellow Perch 750 · Rock Bass 325 · Bluegill 87
All survey species18 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.
Non-native species records
No non-native species recorded in the available dataset. This does not confirm that no non-native species are present.
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 · Rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Picnic tables
“Fishing Pier is located at Otsego Lake State park. It is a floating pier that is installed in the spring and taken out in the fall. Best fishing is in the morning or evening as the lake is full of boats during the day. The pier is fully ADA acessable from the paved parking area all the way out onto the pier. If the fish aren't biting have a fun day at the beach.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceOtsego Lake — common questions
How deep is Otsego Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Otsego Lake is 23 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 Otsego Lake?
Otsego Lake covers about 2,019 acres in Otsego County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Otsego Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Otsego Lake is 10.3 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Otsego Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye. The page lists all 22 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Otsego Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 2 public access sites on Otsego Lake, including Otsego Lake State Park.
