Big Chub Lake fishing

Big Chub Lake fishing is stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout on a natural lake. It is stocked about 1.2 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake

Last stocked: April 16, 2026; Apr 16 · Rainbow Trout
Plants on record: 56; Since 1979
Species recorded: 2
Surface acres: 72.9

Fish at Big Chub Lake

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Around the dates Big Chub Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 40.3°F in April, 54.1°F in May, 64.4°F in June, 48.7°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 45 plants · last April 16, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 16, 2026 · 45 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

Brown Trout Stocked · 11 plants · last April 25, 1989 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 25, 1989 · 11 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide

Big Chub Lake is a quiet spring-fed lake with crystal clear water. Fishing includes rainbow trout, brown trout, pike, and bass. (gaylordmichigan.net, accessed October 5, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

How Big Chub Lake is stocked

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

About 3,289 reported fish per acre, the most of 15 lakes in Otsego County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 1979

3,500

Fish stocked in 1980

3,325

Fish stocked in 1981

3,500

Fish stocked in 1982

3,500

Fish stocked in 1983

3,690

Fish stocked in 1984

3,510

Fish stocked in 1985

3,500

Fish stocked in 1986

3,500

Fish stocked in 1987

4,000

Fish stocked in 1988

4,000

Fish stocked in 1989

4,000

Fish stocked in 1990

4,000

Fish stocked in 1991

3,840

Fish stocked in 1992

4,000

Fish stocked in 1993

3,996

Fish stocked in 1994

4,000

Fish stocked in 1995

4,000

Fish stocked in 1996

3,997

Fish stocked in 1997

3,999

Fish stocked in 1998

3,852

Fish stocked in 1999

3,900

Fish stocked in 2000

4,000

Fish stocked in 2001

4,000

Fish stocked in 2002

4,000

Fish stocked in 2003

4,000

Fish stocked in 2004

5,000

Fish stocked in 2005

5,000

Fish stocked in 2006

4,999

Fish stocked in 2007

5,000

Fish stocked in 2008

5,000

Fish stocked in 2009

31,994

Fish stocked in 2010

5,200

Fish stocked in 2011

5,200

Fish stocked in 2012

5,000

Fish stocked in 2013

5,100

Fish stocked in 2014

5,200

Fish stocked in 2015

5,200

Fish stocked in 2016

4,999

Fish stocked in 2017

5,500

Fish stocked in 2018

5,400

Fish stocked in 2019

5,494

Fish stocked in 2020

4,800

Fish stocked in 2021

4,399

Fish stocked in 2022

4,997

Fish stocked in 2023

4,798

Fish stocked in 2024

5,500

Fish stocked in 2025

5,194

Fish stocked in 2026

5,200

Stocking history

All species Brown Trout Rainbow Trout

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
April 16, 2026	Rainbow Trout	5,200	–	report
April 22, 2025	Rainbow Trout	5,194	–	report
April 9, 2024	Rainbow Trout	5,500	–	report
April 17, 2023	Rainbow Trout	4,798	–	report
April 18, 2022	Rainbow Trout	4,997	–	report
April 14, 2021	Rainbow Trout	4,399	–	report
April 23, 2020	Rainbow Trout	4,800	–	report
April 30, 2019	Rainbow Trout	5,494	–	report
May 3, 2018	Rainbow Trout	5,400	–	report
April 18, 2017	Rainbow Trout	5,500	–	report
May 3, 2016	Rainbow Trout	4,999	–	report
April 22, 2015	Rainbow Trout	5,200	–	report
April 24, 2014	Rainbow Trout	5,200	–	report
April 18, 2013	Rainbow Trout	5,100	–	report
April 30, 2012	Rainbow Trout	5,000	–	report
April 18, 2011	Rainbow Trout	5,200	–	report
April 20, 2010	Rainbow Trout	5,200	–	report
October 28, 2009	Rainbow Trout	26,994	–	report
April 27, 2009	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
April 27, 2009	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 8, 2008	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 8, 2008	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 3, 2007	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 3, 2007	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 2, 2006	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 2, 2006	Rainbow Trout	2,499	–	report
May 5, 2005	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 5, 2005	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 4, 2004	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
May 4, 2004	Rainbow Trout	2,500	–	report
April 24, 2003	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 22, 2002	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 26, 2001	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 3, 2000	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 20, 1999	Rainbow Trout	3,900	–	report
April 13, 1998	Rainbow Trout	3,852	–	report
May 6, 1997	Rainbow Trout	3,999	–	report
May 16, 1996	Rainbow Trout	3,997	–	report
May 18, 1995	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
May 20, 1994	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
June 16, 1993	Rainbow Trout	835	–	report
May 13, 1993	Rainbow Trout	3,161	–	report
April 30, 1992	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 16, 1991	Rainbow Trout	3,840	–	report
April 17, 1990	Rainbow Trout	4,000	–	report
April 25, 1989	Brown Trout	4,000	–	report
May 2, 1988	Brown Trout	4,000	–	report
May 6, 1987	Brown Trout	4,000	–	report
April 28, 1986	Brown Trout	3,500	–	report
May 13, 1985	Brown Trout	3,500	–	report
May 14, 1984	Brown Trout	3,510	–	report
April 25, 1983	Brown Trout	3,690	–	report
May 6, 1982	Brown Trout	3,500	–	report
June 9, 1981	Brown Trout	3,500	–	report
June 6, 1980	Brown Trout	3,325	–	report
April 30, 1979	Brown Trout	3,500	–	report

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.

Nearest lakes

Bridge Lake 0.7 mi last stocked April 30, 2026 Opal Lake 1.9 mi last stocked June 10, 2025 Big Bradford Lake 4.4 mi last stocked June 10, 2025 Otsego Lake 4.5 mi last stocked June 2, 2026 Dixon Lake 6.4 mi last stocked June 10, 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Big Chub Lake?

Fishing Big Chub Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 45 of 56 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 16, 2026. Brown Trout was last stocked April 25, 1989.

When is Big Chub Lake stocked?

Last stocked April 16, 2026. It is stocked about 1.2 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. About 3,289 reported fish per acre, the most of 15 lakes in Otsego County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Which lakes near Big Chub Lake were stocked more recently?

Bridge Lake (0.7 mi) and Otsego Lake (4.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Bridge Lake is also stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Sources (3) +