Portage Lake (Jackson County)
Portage Lake is in Jackson County near Waterloo. It has a public boat ramp and is fished for bass, pike and panfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
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.
- Portage Lake public boat rampRampState-listed boat ramp near Blackman. A guide also lists parking and a boat launch at 6990 Portage Lake Road.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 Portage Lake (Jackson County) 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 Portage Lake (Jackson County) ↗Local tips
- Work weed edges for bass and pike.
- Fish small baits for bluegill near docks and weeds.
- Check the ramp and parking before you tow a boat.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.