Big Bradford Lake fishing

Fishing at Big Bradford Lake has Rainbow Trout and Walleye on the stocking report. It is stocked about 0.3 times a year since 1979, most often in April and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Last stocked

June 10, 2025

Plants on record

13

Since 1979

Species recorded

2

Surface acres

256

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How Big Bradford Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the last week of May. In 2025 it was June 10, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 34 years between 1979 and 2025.

About 421 reported fish per acre, 14th most of 16 lakes in Otsego County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Bridge Lake (4 mi), Big Chub Lake (4.4 mi), and Otsego Lake (5.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Bridge Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Big Chub Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Otsego Lake is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Big Bradford Lake

Fishing Big Bradford Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 7 of 13 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout.

Around the dates Big Bradford Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 64.3°F in June, 40.2°F in April, 54.1°F in May. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye 7 plants
Plants
7 of 13
Last stocked
June 10, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Rainbow Trout 6 plants
Plants
6 of 13
Last stocked
April 24, 2001

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 5,0001979
  • 5,0001980
  • 5,0001981
  • 2,9001999
  • 3,0002000
  • 3,0002001
  • 12,2802012
  • 9,0332014
  • 10,2302016
  • 20,0002018
  • 8,0002021
  • 14,9682023
  • 9,3172025

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 10, 2025 Walleye 9,317 – report
June 8, 2023 Walleye 14,968 – report
June 17, 2021 Walleye 8,000 – report
June 11, 2018 Walleye 20,000 – report
June 8, 2016 Walleye 10,230 – report
June 16, 2014 Walleye 9,033 – report
June 4, 2012 Walleye 12,280 – report
April 24, 2001 Rainbow Trout 3,000 – report
May 11, 2000 Rainbow Trout 3,000 – report
April 13, 1999 Rainbow Trout 2,900 – report
April 22, 1981 Rainbow Trout 5,000 – report
May 12, 1980 Rainbow Trout 5,000 – report
May 22, 1979 Rainbow Trout 5,000 – report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes