Pike Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Pike Lake is mapped to a depth of 44 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 275 acres in Luce County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 44 ft
- Mean depth
- 15.5 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 275 acres
- Estimated volume
- 4,259 acre-ft · 1,388M gal
- Shoreline
- 4.37 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Trophic state
- Mesotrophic · satellite estimate · readings disagree · details
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details9 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–44 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 44 ft
29.4% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 27.7% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 46.64211, -85.40964
- MI DNR lake ID
- L24004
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.18×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.5 MB
Lake productivity & trophic state
Satellite estimateSatellite-estimated classification: Mesotrophic. Moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity. Based on satellite estimates of summer chlorophyll-a (LAGOS-US LANDSAT, 2020). No lake-specific measurement is available in this dataset.Field and satellite readings disagree for this lake: a Secchi disk water-clarity reading of 5.6 ft was recorded in 2004, while the satellite estimate is 7.4 ft. Treat the satellite-estimated classification with caution.
Trophic state describes how biologically productive a lake is, based on indicators such as nutrients, algae and water clarity. It is not a swimming-safety or overall water-quality rating.
What do the categories mean?
- Oligotrophic≤ 2 µg/L · lower nutrient and algae levels, often clearer water and lower biological productivity.
- Mesotrophic · this lake2–7 µg/L · moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity.
- Eutrophic7–30 µg/L · higher nutrient levels and biological productivity, often with more algae or aquatic plant growth.
- Hypereutrophic> 30 µg/L · very high nutrient levels and biological productivity, with a greater potential for heavy algae growth and low water clarity.
Bands are summer (June–August) mean chlorophyll-a, the green pigment in algae, at the EPA 2012 National Lakes Assessment thresholds. Trophic condition can change over time and by measurement method. Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; satellite chlorophyll-a estimates from LAGOS-US LANDSAT.
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-23Pike Lake has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, little nearby major-road exposure. 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 | Very Good | 20.9 of 30 | 72% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (29% forest, 37% wetland; 16% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 14.2 of 25 | mean fetch 1,145 m · 2% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short 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 · 1 ramp lane |
| Road isolation | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | relatively isolated from major roads · 1 MDOT-classified segment within 1.2 km, peak 41 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
- High — 29% forest and 37% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking11 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
White Sucker
Golden Shiner
Spottail ShinerAbout these fish → the Fish of Michigan guide
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.
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 2026-09-15. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 1998–2023Master Angler catches recorded on this lake — too few to show a pattern, so they are listed individually.
Fishery
Gamefish Northern Pike 26 · Walleye 13
Panfish Yellow Perch 795 · Pumpkinseed 284 · Rock Bass 38
All survey species11 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
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
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.
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distancePike Lake — common questions
How deep is Pike Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Pike Lake is 44 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 Pike Lake?
Pike Lake covers about 275 acres in Luce County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Pike Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Pike Lake is 15.5 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Pike Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include northern pike, walleye, bluegill, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, rock bass. The page lists all 11 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Pike Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Pike Lake, including Pike Lake SFCG.
