Lake Independence

Marquette County, Michigan

Lake Independence is a roughly 2,000-acre natural lake in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula, enlarged by a 1913 dam. It is known for its Walleye fishery, which relies on natural reproduction, alongside Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Smallmouth Bass.

Air temp in Big Bay, MI Not available right now.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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

Surface area1,860 acres

Max depth30 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Walleye●●●●○

Abundant in 2014 DNR survey; slow-growing, about half of those caught met 15-inch legal size

Northern Pike●●●○○

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

Yellow Perch●●●○○

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

Smallmouth Bass●●●○○

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

Bluegill●●○○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Boat launches

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

Perkins Park Boat LaunchPublic
Marquette County park, Powell Township; hard-surface ramp for large watercraft; launch feeDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See 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
Walleye Protected slot limit: release all walleye under 15" and all from 18.0" to 23.0"; no more than 1 walleye over 23" in the daily limit	15" min; release 18.0-23.0" inclusive	5

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗

Verified October 2026. 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 Independence ↗

Local tips

Walleye here grow slowly, reaching legal size around age 5-6, so check length carefully against the 2026 protected slot limit.
Walleye must be released if under 15 inches or between 18 and 23 inches; one fish over 23 inches is allowed in the limit of 5.
The DNR stopped stocking walleye after 2022 because the lake has strong natural reproduction.

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.