Craig Lake (Branch County)
Craig Lake is a shallow lake near Coldwater in Branch County, part of the Randall Chain. It is a productive, weedy lake with several islands and mostly bluegill and bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Bluegill
Most abundant fish in the 2012 survey
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Redear Sunfish
Shellcracker. Beds in spring and deep shell bars in summer. Red worms on the bottom.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Craig Lake public boat rampRampDNR boat ramp, 276 Stevens Shores Dr, ColdwaterDirections ↗
- 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 Craig Lake (Branch County) 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 Craig Lake (Branch County) ↗Local tips
- More than half the lake is under 10 ft deep, so fish the weed edges.
- Look for wood cover and wetland edges for bass.
- Water level is held by Hodunk Dam, so check conditions before launching.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.