Sixmile Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Sixmile Lake is mapped to a depth of 23 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 98 acres in Dickinson County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 23 ft
- Mean depth
- 9.4 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 98 acres
- Estimated volume
- 922 acre-ft · 300M gal
- Shoreline
- 2.17 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 12% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Trophic state
- Mesotrophic · satellite estimate · readings disagree · details
- Public access
- Boat Launch
- Borders
- Crystal Falls State Forest Area · Michigan DNR · 41% of shoreline
Additional depth details7 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–23 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 23 ft, 19 ft, 19 ft
50.9% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 1.1% 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 Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.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
- 46.02256, -87.91589
- MI DNR lake ID
- L45922
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.9× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 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 7.9 ft was recorded in 2007, while the satellite estimate is 11 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 2026-09-23Sixmile 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 | 22.8 of 30 | 78% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (30% forest, 43% wetland; 17% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 18.1 of 25 | mean fetch 787 m · 3% 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 · 5 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Excellent | 12.4 of 15 | relatively isolated from major roads · 2 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 105 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 12% 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 — 30% forest and 43% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches & active stocking3 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
About these fish → the Fish of Michigan guide
Historically stocked, no recent evidence: Walleye (last planted 2000) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 3 species found here — 3 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 · 2012–2016Master Angler catches recorded on this lake — too few to show a pattern, so they are listed individually.
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1980–2000Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
No stockings recorded since 2000 — shown as history.
Non-native species records
1 recordPlants & algae
How to identify invasive species in Michigan lakes →
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.
Bait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceSixmile Lake — common questions
How deep is Sixmile Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Sixmile Lake is 23 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 Sixmile Lake?
Sixmile Lake covers about 98 acres in Dickinson County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Sixmile Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Sixmile Lake is 9.4 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Sixmile Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, northern pike, crappie. The page shows the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Sixmile Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Sixmile Lake, including Six Mile Lake.
