Black Lake
Black Lake is a roughly 10,000-acre inland lake spanning Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties in the northeast Lower Peninsula, with a tannin-stained dark-water look from the Black and Rainy rivers. It is known for its lake sturgeon fishery, including a short winter spearing season, and for walleye, northern pike and muskellunge.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Onaway State Park boat launchRampHard-surface ramp for large watercraft, 19 parking spaces, Recreation Passport required (MI DNR)Directions ↗
- Black Lake State Forest Campground rampRampConcrete ramp with dock on the northeast shore off Eisens TrailDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Sturgeon Season: 1st Sat. in Feb. through following Mon. or until quota reached; ice spearing only; registration required | See Michigan rules book ↗ | 6 fish season quota |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at 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 Black Lake ↗Local tips
- The lake has two basins: the northwest end deepens gradually, while the southeast end is deeper with a steeper drop-off.
- Winter lake sturgeon season is a brief spearing season (Feb. 2026: Feb. 7-11) with a 6-fish quota and online registration; check the DNR page each year.
- Zebra mussels are present, so clean, drain and dry boats before leaving.
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 Crystal Lake Portage Lake (Houghton County) All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.