Fife Lake

Fife Lake fishing

Fishing at Fife Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye, Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike, and 2 more. It is stocked about 0.5 times a year since 2004, most often in April and June. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Crappie, dawn, day, and dusk for Bluegill and Northern Pike, and dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass.

Last stocked

June 4, 2025

Plants on record

11

Since 2004

Species recorded

1

Surface acres

597.7

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Fife Lake, MI
Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
Yes

MDNR-owned public access site with a boat launch on the north side of the lake, within the Village of Fife Lake's limits (the village maintains the site under a lease with MDNR). A private marina sits near the public launch.

Sources: water_type , access , access , shore_notes , access.fee , nearest_town , photos , fishing_notes , watch_outs

How Fife Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of June. In 2025 it was June 4, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 12 years between 2004 and 2025.

About 2,373 reported fish per acre, 3rd most of 8 lakes in Grand Traverse County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish at Fife Lake

Fishing Fife Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. All 11 plants on record are Walleye.

Around the dates Fife Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 65.5°F in June, 41.5°F in April, 55.1°F in May. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye 11 plants
Plants
11 of 11
Last stocked
June 4, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fishing Fife Lake

Fife Lake, which is a village in southeastern Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan, lies upon the shore of the lake of the same name. The village annually hosts the Fife Lake Ice Fishing Derby near the end of January.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

The village annually hosts the Fife Lake Ice Fishing Derby near the end of January, indicating that ice is a condition for fishing during this time.

Fish stocked per year

  • 21,4562004
  • 30,1762011
  • 24,0302012
  • 20,3252014
  • 1,194,8002015
  • 41,8372016
  • 19,8462018
  • 18,4442021
  • 21,6502023
  • 26,0172025

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 4, 2025 Walleye 26,017 report
June 6, 2023 Walleye 21,650 report
June 8, 2021 Walleye 18,444 report
June 1, 2018 Walleye 19,846 report
June 22, 2016 Walleye 41,837 report
May 4, 2015 Walleye 499,800 report
April 29, 2015 Walleye 695,000 report
June 17, 2014 Walleye 20,325 report
June 13, 2012 Walleye 24,030 report
June 9, 2011 Walleye 30,176 report
June 10, 2004 Walleye 21,456 report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

  • Rock bass : Most frequently collected species in the 2013 MDNR netting survey (250 caught); not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Bluegill : 83 caught (3-9 inches) in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Pumpkinseed sunfish : 5 caught (6-7 inches) in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Black crappie : 10 caught (8-13 inches) in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Largemouth bass : 107 caught, up to 19 inches, in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Smallmouth bass : 62 caught, up to 20 inches, in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)
  • Northern pike : Listed among game fish caught in the 2013 MDNR netting survey; not in the state stocking data for this lake. (source)

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