Channel Catfish Stocked · 13 plants · last September 29, 2004 Best: dusk, night Ford Lake fishing
Ford Lake fishing: not stocked since September 29, 2004. It was stocked with Tiger Muskie, Walleye, and Channel Catfish on a reservoir. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.
- Last stocked
- September 29, 2004
- · Channel Catfish
- Plants on record
- 27
- Since 1979
- Species recorded
- 3
- Surface acres
- 974.4
Fish at Ford Lake
Around the dates Ford Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 54.2°F in October, 71.9°F in August, 65.9°F in September, 47°F in April. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Channel Catfish Stocked · 13 plants · last September 29, 2004 Best: dusk, night 
Tiger Muskie Stocked · 12 plants · last October 4, 1991 Last stocked October 4, 1991 · 12 plants
Tiger Muskie species guide
Walleye Stocked · 2 plants · last April 23, 1985 Best: dawn, dusk, night Ford Lake is a recreational site for fishing, and the only boat launch for motorized vessels is within Ford Lake Park. Common fish include bullhead catfish, channel catfish, common carp, crappies, northern pike, smallmouth bass, suckers, sunfish, bluegill, walleye, white bass, and yellow perch. The largest fish caught in Ford Lake is a common carp, recorded at 36.25 inches long in the state's Master Angler Entries. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Ford Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 7 years between 1979 and 2004.
Fish stocked in 1979
2,000
Fish stocked in 1980
4,000
Fish stocked in 1981
1,500
Fish stocked in 1982
2,032,395
Fish stocked in 1983
2,000
Fish stocked in 1985
3,001,600
Fish stocked in 1986
2,000
Fish stocked in 1987
17,000
Fish stocked in 1988
15,000
Fish stocked in 1989
13,000
Fish stocked in 1990
15,000
Fish stocked in 1991
17,000
Fish stocked in 1994
22,806
Fish stocked in 1997
10,000
Fish stocked in 1998
19,035
Fish stocked in 1999
12,300
Fish stocked in 2000
7,502
Fish stocked in 2002
7,260
Fish stocked in 2004
6,036
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2004 | Channel Catfish | 6,036 | – | report |
| September 18, 2002 | Channel Catfish | 7,260 | – | report |
| October 2, 2000 | Channel Catfish | 7,502 | – | report |
| October 20, 1999 | Channel Catfish | 12,300 | – | report |
| October 21, 1998 | Channel Catfish | 19,035 | – | report |
| October 8, 1997 | Channel Catfish | 10,000 | – | report |
| October 13, 1994 | Channel Catfish | 22,806 | – | report |
| November 2, 1991 | Channel Catfish | 15,000 | – | report |
| October 4, 1991 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| November 8, 1990 | Channel Catfish | 15,000 | – | report |
| September 19, 1989 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| May 19, 1989 | Channel Catfish | 4,500 | – | report |
| April 7, 1989 | Channel Catfish | 6,500 | – | report |
| September 8, 1988 | Channel Catfish | 15,000 | – | report |
| October 2, 1987 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| April 15, 1987 | Channel Catfish | 15,000 | – | report |
| October 14, 1986 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| August 13, 1985 | Tiger Muskie | 1,600 | – | report |
| April 23, 1985 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| August 8, 1983 | Tiger Muskie | 1,000 | – | report |
| August 2, 1983 | Tiger Muskie | 1,000 | – | report |
| May 17, 1982 | Tiger Muskie | 32,395 | – | report |
| May 5, 1982 | Walleye | 2,000,000 | – | report |
| August 11, 1981 | Tiger Muskie | 1,500 | – | report |
| September 17, 1980 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| August 18, 1980 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
| July 13, 1979 | Tiger Muskie | 2,000 | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Ypsilanti, MI
- Facilities
- dock, restrooms
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.
About Ford Lake
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Ford Lake?
Fishing Ford Lake usually means Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish accounts for 13 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Tiger Muskie and one more. Channel Catfish was last stocked September 29, 2004. Tiger Muskie was last stocked October 4, 1991. Walleye was last stocked April 23, 1985.
When is Ford Lake stocked?
Not stocked since September 29, 2004. No plants recorded in 7 years between 1979 and 2004.
How do you get on Ford Lake?
The nearest town is Ypsilanti, MI. Facilities include dock and restrooms.
Which lakes near Ford Lake were stocked more recently?
Barton Pond (11.4 mi), Newburgh Lake (13.3 mi), Whitmore Lake (16.8 mi), and Spring Mill Pond (20 mi) were stocked more recently. Barton Pond is also stocked with Tiger Muskie and Channel Catfish, Newburgh Lake is also stocked with Channel Catfish, and Whitmore Lake is also stocked with Tiger Muskie and Walleye.