Pontiac Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Pontiac Lake is mapped to a depth of 34 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 678 acres in Oakland County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 34 ft
- Mean depth
- 3 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 678 acres
- Estimated volume
- 2,064 acre-ft · 673M gal
- Shoreline
- 11.44 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 18% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
Additional depth details7 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–34 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 34 ft, 34 ft, 12 ft
90% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 1.9% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 42.66845, -83.46648
- MI DNR lake ID
- L1630
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.52×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.5 MB
Watercraft rules
county-enforced local controls · MI DNROfficial rule details2 rules
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Pontiac Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, moderate open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Speed limit.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 8.4 of 30 | 47% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (22% forest, 24% wetland; 38% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 10.2 of 25 | mean fetch 1,681 m · 2% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | Speed limit | 9.0 of 15 | Speed limit; Local control |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 2 sites with DNR boating-facility records · 5 ramp lanes · 10 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 101 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 31,133 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 18% 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
- Moderate — 22% forest and 24% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking15 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
Channel Catfish
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Smallmouth Bass
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Perchstocked
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
Green Sunfish
Golden ShinerHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Fathead Minnow (last planted 1982), Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1980) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 15 species found here — 15 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 · 1997–2025Trophy-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 species8 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (13) · live bait (12) · minnow (8)
Method: spincasting (21) · still fishing (16) · ice fishing (10) · trolling (3)
Fishery
Gamefish Largemouth Bass 5 · Channel Catfish 5 · Smallmouth Bass 1 · Northern Pike 1
Panfish Black Crappie 15 · Green Sunfish 1 · Bluegill 1
All survey species10 species
Gamefish
Panfish
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.
Complete stocking history8 older species
Non-native species records
9 recordsMussels & snails
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Curly-leaf Pondweed
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Flowering Rush
- Narrow-leaved Cattail
- Purple Loosestrife
- Starry Stonewort
- Water Lettuce
- Yellow Iris
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: Animal-friendly, beach, boat launch, boat rental, camping, equipment rental, grills, picnic tables, playground, shelter, swimming access, walking trails, water pump
“Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, with 3,745 acres of a mixture of marshes, ponds, heavy forests, old farm fields, river bottom and lakes that support a variety of animals and excellent hunting. Designated trails throughout the recreation area are available for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking.”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distancePontiac Lake — common questions
How deep is Pontiac Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Pontiac Lake is 34 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 Pontiac Lake?
Pontiac Lake covers about 678 acres in Oakland County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Pontiac Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Pontiac Lake is 3 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Pontiac Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie. The page lists all 15 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Pontiac Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 2 public access sites on Pontiac Lake, including Tackles Drive.
