Grousehaven Lake fishing

Fishing at Grousehaven Lake has Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, and Brook Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.4 times a year since 1980, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Brook Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, and dawn for Lake Trout.

Last stocked

April 21, 2025

Plants on record

65

Since 1980

Species recorded

4

Surface acres

86.5

Access and facts

Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, dock

A DNR-listed public boating access site with 1 launch lane and 1 pier serves the lake. Administered by Rifle River State Recreation Area; a Recreation Passport is required. 1 toilet on site.

Sources: access , shore_notes , facilities , access.fee , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Grousehaven Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of April. In 2025 it was April 21, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 11 years between 1980 and 2025.

About 1,199 reported fish per acre, 3rd most of 7 lakes in Ogemaw County with both a fish count and a surface area.

George Lake (2.4 mi), Sage Lake (5.6 mi), and Loon Lake (9.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Loon Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Grousehaven Lake

Fishing Grousehaven Lake is most likely to be for Brown Trout. Brown Trout accounts for 39 of 65 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 2 more.

Around the dates Grousehaven Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 41.8°F in April, 55.1°F in May, 36.6°F in November, 65.6°F in June. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Brown Trout 39 plants
Plants
39 of 65
Last stocked
April 21, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Rainbow Trout 21 plants
Plants
21 of 65
Last stocked
April 21, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Lake Trout 3 plants
Plants
3 of 65
Last stocked
November 8, 2019

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Brook Trout 2 plants
Plants
2 of 65
Last stocked
November 30, 2023

Seasons and rigs are on the Brook Trout guide.

Fishing Grousehaven Lake

Grousehaven Lake, situated within the Rifle River State Recreation Area in Ogemaw County, Michigan, is open to fishing. Anglers can find bluegills, bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and trout in Grousehaven Lake, along with Devoe, Lodge, and Grebe lakes. Additionally, ice fishing is possible in the multiple lakes and streams throughout the recreation area.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Boaters should note that all lakes and waterways within Rifle River State Recreation Area are closed to boats with motors.

Fish stocked per year

  • 3,8001980
  • 1,5001981
  • 1,5001982
  • 2,0001983
  • 2,0001984
  • 1,5301985
  • 1,6401986
  • 1,7001987
  • 2,0001988
  • 4,0001990
  • 3,8401991
  • 3,9591992
  • 3,7301993
  • 4,0001994
  • 3,8591995
  • 1,9961996
  • 3,9961997
  • 3,8801998
  • 3,9301999
  • 4,0002000
  • 4,0802001
  • 4,2102002
  • 4,4502003
  • 4,5002004
  • 4,7502005
  • 4,0952006
  • 4,2002007
  • 4,0002008
  • 4,8992009
  • 4,7982010
  • 2002016
  • 1202018
  • 2252019
  • 1252023
  • 1852025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 65 plants Showing 65 plants

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 21, 2025 Brown Trout 147 – report
April 21, 2025 Rainbow Trout 38 – report
November 30, 2023 Brook Trout 50 – report
November 30, 2023 Brook Trout 75 – report
November 8, 2019 Lake Trout 75 – report
November 8, 2019 Lake Trout 50 – report
November 8, 2019 Lake Trout 50 – report
April 25, 2019 Brown Trout 25 – report
April 25, 2019 Brown Trout 25 – report
April 25, 2018 Brown Trout 90 – report
April 25, 2018 Brown Trout 20 – report
April 25, 2018 Brown Trout 10 – report
April 28, 2016 Brown Trout 20 – report
April 28, 2016 Brown Trout 180 – report
April 15, 2010 Rainbow Trout 2,400 – report
April 15, 2010 Brown Trout 2,398 – report
April 14, 2009 Rainbow Trout 2,500 – report
April 14, 2009 Brown Trout 2,399 – report
May 7, 2008 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
April 24, 2008 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 18, 2007 Brown Trout 1,800 – report
April 18, 2007 Rainbow Trout 2,400 – report
April 14, 2006 Rainbow Trout 1,999 – report
April 14, 2006 Brown Trout 2,096 – report
April 25, 2005 Rainbow Trout 2,750 – report
April 25, 2005 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 8, 2004 Rainbow Trout 2,500 – report
April 8, 2004 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 23, 2003 Rainbow Trout 2,400 – report
April 23, 2003 Brown Trout 2,050 – report
April 30, 2002 Rainbow Trout 2,130 – report
April 25, 2002 Brown Trout 2,080 – report
May 8, 2001 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
April 26, 2001 Brown Trout 2,080 – report
April 20, 2000 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 20, 2000 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
May 12, 1999 Rainbow Trout 1,930 – report
April 12, 1999 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 21, 1998 Rainbow Trout 1,950 – report
April 17, 1998 Brown Trout 1,930 – report
April 24, 1997 Rainbow Trout 1,997 – report
April 18, 1997 Brown Trout 1,999 – report
April 30, 1996 Brown Trout 1,996 – report
April 28, 1995 Brown Trout 1,859 – report
April 24, 1995 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
April 27, 1994 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
April 19, 1994 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 28, 1993 Rainbow Trout 1,740 – report
April 13, 1993 Brown Trout 1,990 – report
May 13, 1992 Rainbow Trout 1,999 – report
May 4, 1992 Brown Trout 1,960 – report
April 17, 1991 Rainbow Trout 1,840 – report
April 12, 1991 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
June 11, 1990 Brown Trout 1,900 – report
June 11, 1990 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
June 11, 1990 Brown Trout 100 – report
April 29, 1988 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 28, 1987 Brown Trout 1,700 – report
April 29, 1986 Brown Trout 1,640 – report
May 17, 1985 Brown Trout 1,530 – report
May 11, 1984 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 20, 1983 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
May 4, 1982 Brown Trout 1,500 – report
May 7, 1981 Brown Trout 1,500 – report
June 4, 1980 Brown Trout 3,800 – report
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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