Home / Michigan lakes / Lake Chapin
Impoundment

Lake Chapin

Berrien County, Michigan

Lake Chapin is a long, narrow reservoir on the St. Joseph River near Berrien Springs in Berrien County. It is held back by the Berrien Springs dam and runs about ten miles north toward Buchanan.

N0.5 mi
Air temp Loading current temperature…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Surface area485 acres
Max depth—
Shoreline—
Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Bluegill●●●○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Northern Pike●●●○○

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

Walleye●●○○○

Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.

Boat launches

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

  • Public launch near Berrien SpringsPublic
    A rental company page says the lake has a few small public access points. Check locally for exact sites.Directions ↗
  • 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 Lake Chapin 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 Lake Chapin ↗

Local tips

  • Fish the deeper basins near the dam for bigger fish.
  • Try the quiet coves for bluegill and bass.
  • Boat traffic is heavier in open stretches on summer weekends.

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.