Sanford Lake
Sanford Lake is a long, narrow Tittabawassee River impoundment in Midland County. It drained when the dam failed in 2020 and has been refilling since the dam was rebuilt.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Bluegill
Most common fish in the 2015 DNR survey.
Crappie
Black crappie averaged 8.3 inches in 2015.
Walleye
Stocked. Grew well above average before 2020.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Sanford Lake ParkRampCounty park with boat ramp at 415 W Irish St, Sanford. Reopened May 2026.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 Sanford 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 Sanford Lake ↗Local tips
- Species notes come from a 2015 survey, before the dam failure. Fish populations may have changed.
- Watch for changed depths and floating debris after the refill.
- Call the county park for ramp hours and rules before you go.
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.