Ottawa Lake
Ottawa Lake is in Iron County, about five miles southwest of Iron River in the Ottawa National Forest. It is a deep, cold lake next to a national forest campground.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Lake Trout
Deep, cold water. Downriggers or vertical jigging.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Lake Ottawa boat rampRampBoat ramp with ample trailer parking at the Lake Ottawa Recreation Area. Day use fee is $5 per vehicle, or $30 for the season, unless you have paid for a campsite.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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa Lake ↗Local tips
- The Forest Service lists bass as catch and release only, so release any bass you catch.
- Deep cold water suits lake trout, so fish deeper in summer.
- Bring cash or a card for the day use fee.
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.