Big Star Lake
Big Star Lake is the largest lake in Lake County, near Baldwin in west-central Michigan. It is a shallow lake with three basins, known for bluegill, black crappie and some walleye.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Bluegill
Most common fish in the 2015 DNR survey
Crappie
Black crappie were present in the 2015 survey
Walleye
Stocked and reproducing at low levels
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- DNR boat launch (west shore)RampPaved ramp with parking for about 51 vehicles.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 Star 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
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Baldwin Bait & TackleNearbyBaldwin, MIDirections ↗
Local tips
- Most of the lake is under 15 feet deep, so work weed edges and basin breaks for panfish.
- Water level can swing several feet, so watch for shallow spots near shore.
- Expect heavy dock and boat traffic on summer days; fish early or late.
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.