Fife Lake (Kalkaska County)
Fife Lake is a natural glacial lake in Grand Traverse County, about 18 miles southeast of Traverse City. It has two islands and holds bluegill, rock bass, walleye and smallmouth bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Bluegill
Most common fish in the 2001 DNR survey
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Northern Pike
Fewer fish. Legal size is 24 inches
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Fife Lake DNR public access siteRampBoat launch on the north side inside the village. A marina sits near the launch.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 Fife Lake (Kalkaska 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 Fife Lake (Kalkaska County) ↗Local tips
- Fish the sand and marl shoals, which cover over half of the lake, for bluegill.
- Walleye must be 15 inches and bass 14 inches under the sizes listed in the 2001 survey. Check current rules.
- Most of the shore is developed, so watch for docks and boat traffic in summer.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.