Shafer Lake
Shafer Lake is an 81 acre natural lake just south of I-94 between Lawrence and Hartford in Van Buren County. It is managed as a trout lake and is stocked with rainbow trout each year.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Rainbow Trout
Stocked yearly, open to trout fishing year-round
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Largemouth Bass
Smaller numbers in the 2010 survey
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Crappie
Black crappie found in the 2010 survey
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Shafer Lake DNR boat launchRampPublic ramp on the southwest corner, 63899 Fairhope Dr, HartfordDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout Type C trout lake, open year-round | 8 in | — |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at 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 Shafer Lake ↗Local tips
- Target stocked rainbow trout in the cooler, deeper water.
- The lake reaches 72 feet, so check depth before you set lines.
- Trout season is open all year, so ice fishing is an option.
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.