Portage Lake
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Portage Lake is mapped to a depth of 40 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 376 acres in Jackson 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 sounding
- 40 ft
- Mean depth
- 9.6 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 376 acres
- Estimated volume
- 3,593 acre-ft · 1,171M gal
- Shoreline
- 4.8 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 4% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch · Rec Passport
Additional depth details10 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–40 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 40 ft, 35 ft, 25 ft
59% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 19.9% is deeper than 20 ft; the survey shows 3 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 42.33675, -84.23734
- MI DNR lake ID
- L4518
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.32×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.5 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Portage Lake has a partly natural setting, moderate open-water exposure, some nearby classified 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 | Good | 17.9 of 30 | 63% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (13% forest, 48% wetland; 18% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 12.2 of 25 | mean fetch 1,384 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate 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 · 4 ramp lanes · 69 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Good | 6.4 of 15 | some nearby classified roads · 18 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,449 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 4% 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 — 13% forest and 48% 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).
Common Carp
Bowfin
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
Crappie
Redear Sunfish
Bluegill
Rock Bass
PumpkinseedHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1980) — not shown above.
Fishing 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 · 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 species9 species
Biggest on record
Bait: live bait (4) · worm (4) · night crawler (3)
Method: spincasting (9) · still fishing (8) · drift fishing (4)
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1980–2025Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Public fishing access
MI DNR family-friendly fishingState-managed · Yes, Rec Passport · Modern restrooms · Paved parking
Amenities: Animal-friendly, beach, boat rental, boat launch, camping, grills, picnic tables, playground, shelter, swimming access, walking trails, water pump
“This lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and features a paved launch and a fishing pier. Parking is available for 61 vehicles”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distancePortage Lake — common questions
How deep is Portage Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Portage Lake is 40 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 Portage Lake?
Portage Lake covers about 376 acres in Jackson County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Portage Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Portage Lake is 9.6 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Portage Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, bowfin, crappie, pumpkinseed. The page lists all 9 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Portage Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Portage Lake, including Portage Lake.
