Nichols Lake
Nichols Lake is in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Newaygo County. About 85 percent of the shoreline is national forest land, and it is popular for fishing and swimming.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Reported in the DNR fishery survey
Bluegill
Reported in the DNR fishery survey
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Crappie
Black crappie
Walleye
Stocked in the past; stocking was paused in 2007 and 2009
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Nichols Lake North (USFS)RampForest Service site with a boat ramp and fishing pier. Day use fee of $5 per vehicle.Directions ↗
- Nichols Lake South (USFS)RampForest Service campground with a boat ramp.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 Nichols 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 Nichols Lake ↗Local tips
- The main basin drops to 57 feet. The east and south basins are much shallower, near 25 and 15 feet.
- Most of the shoreline is national forest land, so shore fishing is easy near the public sites.
- Bring cash or a card for the day use fee at the Forest Service site.
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.