Ross Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Ross Lake is mapped to a depth of 10 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 232 acres in Gladwin County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 10 ft
- Mean depth
- 2.4 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 232 acres
- Estimated volume
- 559 acre-ft · 182M gal
- Shoreline
- 7.77 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 22% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details2 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–10 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 10 ft
91.8% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 43.88451, -84.49705
- MI DNR lake ID
- L11287
- 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 2026-08-21Ross Lake has a substantially developed setting, well sheltered geometry, 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 | 3.9 of 30 | 37% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (6% forest, 30% wetland; 45% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 23.6 of 25 | mean fetch 515 m · 50% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| 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 · 30 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 1.1 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 76 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,052 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 22% 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 — 6% forest and 30% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking27 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Muskellungestocked
Northern Pike
Common Carp
Channel Catfish
Walleyestocked
Redhorse SuckerGolden Redhorse
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Smallmouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
Black Bullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
White Crappie
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
Green Sunfish
Golden Shiner
Blackside Darter
Bluntnose Minnow
Spottail Shiner
Tadpole Madtom
Johnny DarterHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: White Bass (last planted 1988) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 27 species found here — 26 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 · 1995–2025Trophy-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 (13) · artificial lure (6) · combination (1)
Method: still fishing (10) · spincasting (8) · ice fishing (6)
Fishery
surveyed 2018 · DNR SFR 2019-269Gamefish Northern Pike 26 · Channel Catfish 20 · Smallmouth Bass 11 · Largemouth Bass 8
Panfish Black Crappie 154 · Pumpkinseed 62 · Bluegill 34
All survey species22 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–2017Fish 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 fishingCounty-managed · Free · Rustic restrooms · Dirt parking
“This river impoundment can be productive for fishing”
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceRoss Lake — common questions
How deep is Ross Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Ross Lake is 10 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 Ross Lake?
Ross Lake covers about 232 acres in Gladwin County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Ross Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Ross Lake is 2.4 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Ross Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye. The page lists all 27 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Ross Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Ross Lake, including Ross Lake.
