Paw Paw Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Paw Paw Lake is mapped to a depth of 90 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 908 acres in Berrien 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
- 90 ft
- Mean depth
- 32.7 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 908 acres
- Estimated volume
- 29,685 acre-ft · 9,673M gal
- Shoreline
- 9.29 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 3% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details10 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–90 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 90 ft
22.7% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 65.7% is deeper than 20 ft; the survey shows 2 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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.
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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
- 42.20791, -86.26955
- MI DNR lake ID
- L26207
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details2 rules
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Paw Paw Lake 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 | 14% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (4% forest, 10% wetland; 71% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 9.7 of 25 | mean fetch 1,768 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | Slow-no-wake zones | 10.2 of 15 | Restricted hours; Slow — no wake — designated zones only |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 2 sites with DNR boating-facility records · 3 ramp lanes · 36 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 202 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 10,072 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 3% 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 10% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking9 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Longnose Gar
Common Carp
Bowfin
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Gizzard Shad
Crappie
BluegillFishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 9 species found here — 9 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 · 1996–2025Trophy-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 species9 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (5) · minnow (4) · live bait (3)
Method: spincasting (11) · still fishing (6) · bowfishing (3) · trolling (2)
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1990–2023Fish 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
- Freshwater Golden Clam
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Common Reed
- 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-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Rustic restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Boat launch, picnic tables
“Nice fishing pier on the lake.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distancePaw Paw Lake — common questions
How deep is Paw Paw Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Paw Paw Lake is 90 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 Paw Paw Lake?
Paw Paw Lake covers about 908 acres in Berrien County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Paw Paw Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Paw Paw Lake is 32.7 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Paw Paw Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, bowfin, crappie. The page lists all 9 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Paw Paw Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 2 public access sites on Paw Paw Lake, including Paw Paw East.
