Little Traverse Lake
Little Traverse Lake is in north-central Leelanau County, just south of Good Harbor Bay on Lake Michigan. It is known for strong smallmouth bass fishing.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
The 2013 DNR survey called it excellent
Northern Pike
Made up much of the catch by weight
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Cleveland Township Park LaunchRampNorthwest corner. Dirt and concrete ramp, vault toilet, parking for 6 to 8 trailers.Directions ↗
- Leelanau County Sand LaunchPublicNortheast corner. Small sand launch for carry-down boats, roadside parking for 2 to 4 vehicles.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 Little Traverse Lake 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 Little Traverse Lake ↗Local tips
- Average depth is only 5 to 10 feet, so fish the weed edges and wood.
- Rock bass are the most numerous fish, so sort through them for bass.
- The lake is not stocked and relies on natural reproduction, so release larger bass.
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.