Impoundment (Big Sable River)

Hamlin Lake

Mason County, Michigan

Hamlin Lake is a large impoundment of the Big Sable River north of Ludington in Mason County, split into upper and lower basins by a narrows. Ludington State Park lies on its western shore, and it is popular for walleye, bass, perch and panfish fishing, including ice fishing.

Air temp in Ludington, MI Not available right now.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Hamlin Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area4,990 acres

Max depth80 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Walleye●●●●○

DNR stocking has been effective

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Smallmouth Bass●●●○○

Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.

Yellow Perch●●●○○

Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.

Bluegill●●●○○

Larger panfish move into shallows May-June

Northern Pike●●●○○

Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.

Channel Catfish●●○○○

Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.

Boat launches

3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Hamlin Lake - Ludington State Park Boat Launch (DNR)Public
Hard-surface large-watercraft ramp, 77 parking spaces, ADA kayak launch; Recreation Passport requiredDirections ↗
Wilson Hill Park Boat LaunchPublic
Upper Hamlin Lake, Ludington; year-round launch with trailer parkingDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Hamlin Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗

Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.

Search more bait shops near Hamlin Lake ↗

Local tips

Water clarity calls for light line; two-pound mono is recommended, especially in winter.
Productive areas include The Narrows, the Ludington State Park shelf and the Sable River outlet.
Drifting weedlines with leeches and night trolling with Lindy Rigs are reported to produce.

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.