Big Fish Lake
Big Fish Lake is a small, deep lake in the Ortonville Recreation Area in southern Lapeer County. It is known for bluegill, largemouth bass and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Bluegill
Most common fish in the 2017 DNR survey
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Northern Pike
Few caught in the survey
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Big Fish Lake public boat launchRampWest shore, room for about 20 trailers. About half the shoreline is state land in Ortonville Recreation Area.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Big Fish Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Big Fish Lake ↗Local tips
- Bluegill are the main catch, so keep a stock of waxworms or small jigs.
- The lake gets to 70 feet deep, so stay near shoreline weeds for bass.
- Run at high speed only between 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
Torch Lake (Antrim County) Lake Charlevoix Burt Lake Mullett Lake Lake Gogebic Manistique Lake Black Lake Crystal Lake All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.