Higgins Lake fishing

Higgins Lake fishing is stocked with Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Splake, Atlantic Salmon, and Rainbow Trout on a natural lake. It is stocked about 5.9 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, dawn for Lake Trout, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Higgins Lake
Photo: HollywoodGuard, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last stocked
April 16, 2026
· Brown Trout
Plants on record
282
Since 1979
Species recorded
5
Surface acres
10,197

Fish at Higgins Lake

5 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 99 plants · last April 15, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 15, 2026 · 99 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 88 plants · last April 16, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 16, 2026 · 88 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Lake Trout Stocked · 72 plants · last April 14, 2026 Best: dawn

Last stocked April 14, 2026 · 72 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide
Splake Stocked · 18 plants · last June 6, 1994

Last stocked June 6, 1994 · 18 plants

Splake species guide

Higgins Lake is a large recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Anglers can find sportfish including yellow perch, trout, smelt, and pike. Fish are taken both in open water and by ice fishing. The lake is considered morphometrically oligotrophic, appearing and functioning as a nutrient-poor lake although it receives a fair amount of nutrients. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Higgins Lake is stocked

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

About 436 reported fish per acre, 4th most of 5 lakes in Crawford County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 1979

67,000

Fish stocked in 1980

75,000

Fish stocked in 1981

72,000

Fish stocked in 1982

71,629

Fish stocked in 1983

76,900

Fish stocked in 1984

175,300

Fish stocked in 1985

95,330

Fish stocked in 1986

82,400

Fish stocked in 1987

80,129

Fish stocked in 1988

225,661

Fish stocked in 1989

118,729

Fish stocked in 1990

119,507

Fish stocked in 1991

98,000

Fish stocked in 1992

79,199

Fish stocked in 1993

79,600

Fish stocked in 1994

57,694

Fish stocked in 1995

69,961

Fish stocked in 1996

210,384

Fish stocked in 1997

201,029

Fish stocked in 1998

124,697

Fish stocked in 1999

104,760

Fish stocked in 2000

100,307

Fish stocked in 2001

100,550

Fish stocked in 2002

74,973

Fish stocked in 2003

74,989

Fish stocked in 2004

76,895

Fish stocked in 2005

77,369

Fish stocked in 2006

78,092

Fish stocked in 2007

70,159

Fish stocked in 2008

77,307

Fish stocked in 2009

81,710

Fish stocked in 2010

69,595

Fish stocked in 2011

76,329

Fish stocked in 2012

69,970

Fish stocked in 2013

75,443

Fish stocked in 2014

70,348

Fish stocked in 2015

62,270

Fish stocked in 2016

65,873

Fish stocked in 2017

80,515

Fish stocked in 2018

125,466

Fish stocked in 2019

84,463

Fish stocked in 2020

87,491

Fish stocked in 2021

61,855

Fish stocked in 2022

66,055

Fish stocked in 2023

72,191

Fish stocked in 2024

70,423

Fish stocked in 2025

125,448

Fish stocked in 2026

80,753

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 16, 2026Brown Trout6,790–report
April 16, 2026Brown Trout6,789–report
April 15, 2026Brown Trout9,921–report
April 15, 2026Rainbow Trout2,559–report
April 15, 2026Rainbow Trout11,620–report
April 15, 2026Rainbow Trout11,620–report
April 14, 2026Lake Trout31,454–report
October 30, 2025Rainbow Trout9,834–report
October 30, 2025Rainbow Trout25,532–report
May 19, 2025Rainbow Trout8,588–report
April 15, 2025Rainbow Trout21,897–report
April 14, 2025Rainbow Trout4,000–report
April 14, 2025Brown Trout4,000–report
April 14, 2025Brown Trout20,798–report
April 8, 2025Lake Trout30,799–report
April 10, 2024Lake Trout19,625–report
April 3, 2024Rainbow Trout27,498–report
March 21, 2024Brown Trout23,300–report
April 17, 2023Brown Trout11,250–report
April 17, 2023Brown Trout11,250–report
April 13, 2023Rainbow Trout11,940–report
April 13, 2023Rainbow Trout11,950–report
April 12, 2023Lake Trout25,801–report
May 2, 2022Rainbow Trout11,260–report
April 21, 2022Lake Trout29,995–report
April 19, 2022Brown Trout12,400–report
April 19, 2022Brown Trout12,400–report
April 14, 2021Rainbow Trout21,000–report
April 14, 2021Rainbow Trout4,000–report
April 12, 2021Brown Trout25,000–report
April 5, 2021Lake Trout11,855–report
May 20, 2020Brown Trout438–report
May 20, 2020Brown Trout350–report
May 20, 2020Brown Trout494–report
May 20, 2020Rainbow Trout298–report
May 20, 2020Rainbow Trout600–report
May 20, 2020Rainbow Trout287–report
April 16, 2020Rainbow Trout12,050–report
April 16, 2020Brown Trout4,580–report
April 16, 2020Rainbow Trout12,049–report
April 9, 2020Brown Trout10,800–report
April 9, 2020Brown Trout10,800–report
April 2, 2020Lake Trout34,745–report
April 29, 2019Lake Trout8,856–report
April 22, 2019Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 22, 2019Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 22, 2019Rainbow Trout7,500–report
April 18, 2019Lake Trout23,110–report
April 9, 2019Brown Trout8,331–report
April 9, 2019Brown Trout8,333–report
April 9, 2019Brown Trout8,333–report
October 30, 2018Rainbow Trout29,997–report
May 15, 2018Brown Trout11,111–report
May 15, 2018Brown Trout2,776–report
May 15, 2018Brown Trout11,112–report
May 14, 2018Rainbow Trout5,285–report
May 2, 2018Lake Trout10,485–report
May 2, 2018Lake Trout29,990–report
April 30, 2018Rainbow Trout12,355–report
April 30, 2018Rainbow Trout12,355–report
May 26, 2017Rainbow Trout7,376–report
May 2, 2017Rainbow Trout16,500–report
May 2, 2017Rainbow Trout16,499–report
April 13, 2017Lake Trout7,168–report
April 12, 2017Lake Trout32,972–report
May 5, 2016Rainbow Trout14,994–report
May 5, 2016Rainbow Trout15,000–report
April 27, 2016Lake Trout20,794–report
April 13, 2016Lake Trout5,025–report
April 13, 2016Lake Trout10,060–report
April 22, 2015Lake Trout31,270–report
April 14, 2015Rainbow Trout15,500–report
April 14, 2015Rainbow Trout15,500–report
May 5, 2014Lake Trout27,666–report
May 5, 2014Lake Trout11,682–report
April 17, 2014Rainbow Trout15,500–report
April 17, 2014Rainbow Trout15,500–report
April 25, 2013Lake Trout15,376–report
April 25, 2013Lake Trout29,619–report
April 17, 2013Rainbow Trout10,166–report
April 17, 2013Rainbow Trout10,166–report
April 17, 2013Rainbow Trout10,116–report
April 26, 2012Rainbow Trout15,000–report
April 26, 2012Rainbow Trout15,000–report
March 28, 2012Lake Trout19,990–report
March 28, 2012Lake Trout19,980–report
April 13, 2011Rainbow Trout17,267–report
April 13, 2011Brown Trout14,999–report
April 13, 2011Rainbow Trout8,633–report
April 13, 2011Lake Trout25,573–report
April 13, 2011Lake Trout9,857–report
May 19, 2010Brown Trout7,070–report
May 10, 2010Brown Trout2,550–report
April 20, 2010Brown Trout2,384–report
April 16, 2010Rainbow Trout25,528–report
April 7, 2010Lake Trout24,221–report
April 7, 2010Lake Trout7,842–report
April 17, 2009Rainbow Trout16,145–report
April 17, 2009Rainbow Trout16,150–report
April 8, 2009Lake Trout9,705–report
April 8, 2009Lake Trout19,420–report
April 8, 2009Lake Trout20,290–report
April 21, 2008Rainbow Trout13,676–report
April 21, 2008Rainbow Trout13,699–report
April 16, 2008Lake Trout10,170–report
April 16, 2008Lake Trout14,160–report
April 16, 2008Lake Trout10,610–report
April 14, 2008Brown Trout14,992–report
April 11, 2007Brown Trout8,105–report
April 10, 2007Rainbow Trout6,247–report
April 10, 2007Brown Trout5,505–report
April 9, 2007Rainbow Trout18,741–report
April 2, 2007Lake Trout6,132–report
April 2, 2007Lake Trout7,692–report
March 28, 2007Lake Trout17,737–report
October 31, 2006Lake Trout1,388–report
June 15, 2006Rainbow Trout2,000–report
April 7, 2006Brown Trout10,490–report
April 7, 2006Brown Trout4,504–report
April 7, 2006Rainbow Trout7,898–report
April 7, 2006Rainbow Trout12,594–report
April 5, 2006Rainbow Trout4,298–report
March 30, 2006Lake Trout9,970–report
March 30, 2006Lake Trout24,950–report
April 20, 2005Rainbow Trout27,498–report
April 15, 2005Brown Trout14,990–report
April 12, 2005Lake Trout7,054–report
April 11, 2005Lake Trout27,827–report
May 12, 2004Rainbow Trout3,186–report
April 20, 2004Rainbow Trout5,350–report
April 20, 2004Brown Trout14,995–report
April 19, 2004Lake Trout3,501–report
April 15, 2004Rainbow Trout18,393–report
April 7, 2004Lake Trout31,470–report
April 28, 2003Lake Trout14,000–report
April 28, 2003Lake Trout20,990–report
April 21, 2003Brown Trout15,000–report
April 21, 2003Rainbow Trout15,998–report
April 21, 2003Rainbow Trout9,001–report
May 3, 2002Brown Trout14,973–report
May 1, 2002Rainbow Trout5,700–report
April 24, 2002Lake Trout35,000–report
April 22, 2002Rainbow Trout19,300–report
April 26, 2001Rainbow Trout14,700–report
April 25, 2001Lake Trout35,000–report
April 17, 2001Brown Trout17,500–report
April 12, 2001Brown Trout17,500–report
April 12, 2001Rainbow Trout15,850–report
May 8, 2000Lake Trout4,050–report
May 8, 2000Rainbow Trout9,955–report
May 8, 2000Rainbow Trout5,907–report
May 8, 2000Rainbow Trout9,043–report
May 4, 2000Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 1, 2000Lake Trout26,352–report
April 14, 2000Brown Trout17,500–report
March 23, 2000Brown Trout17,500–report
May 11, 1999Brown Trout17,480–report
May 4, 1999Rainbow Trout5,500–report
April 22, 1999Lake Trout35,000–report
April 21, 1999Brown Trout7,500–report
April 20, 1999Brown Trout10,000–report
April 16, 1999Rainbow Trout13,280–report
April 16, 1999Rainbow Trout16,000–report
December 3, 1998Brown Trout22,342–report
April 27, 1998Brown Trout16,400–report
April 20, 1998Lake Trout17,250–report
April 16, 1998Lake Trout17,250–report
April 16, 1998Rainbow Trout3,457–report
April 16, 1998Rainbow Trout18,325–report
April 14, 1998Rainbow Trout12,673–report
April 13, 1998Brown Trout17,000–report
September 17, 1997Rainbow Trout44,000–report
September 16, 1997Rainbow Trout60,000–report
May 15, 1997Lake Trout4,832–report
May 7, 1997Rainbow Trout1,212–report
May 7, 1997Brown Trout7,495–report
May 6, 1997Rainbow Trout16,288–report
May 2, 1997Brown Trout9,973–report
May 2, 1997Lake Trout23,616–report
May 1, 1997Brown Trout16,134–report
April 28, 1997Rainbow Trout17,479–report
October 15, 1996Rainbow Trout47,500–report
October 9, 1996Brown Trout28,957–report
October 9, 1996Brown Trout29,812–report
May 17, 1996Rainbow Trout17,500–report
May 16, 1996Brown Trout16,624–report
May 16, 1996Brown Trout17,497–report
May 15, 1996Rainbow Trout17,494–report
May 6, 1996Lake Trout35,000–report
April 20, 1995Brown Trout17,493–report
April 17, 1995Brown Trout17,488–report
April 13, 1995Rainbow Trout13,600–report
April 3, 1995Rainbow Trout21,380–report
June 6, 1994Splake9,995–report
June 2, 1994Splake9,999–report
April 28, 1994Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 27, 1994Lake Trout11,572–report
April 25, 1994Lake Trout16,128–report
April 29, 1993Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 26, 1993Brown Trout34,700–report
April 19, 1993Lake Trout34,900–report
May 20, 1992Brown Trout6,347–report
May 5, 1992Brown Trout27,952–report
April 29, 1992Lake Trout34,900–report
April 24, 1992Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 21, 1991Brown Trout20,087–report
May 20, 1991Brown Trout20,000–report
May 16, 1991Brown Trout5,000–report
May 8, 1991Brown Trout4,723–report
May 7, 1991Brown Trout7,572–report
May 6, 1991Brown Trout3,310–report
May 6, 1991Brown Trout4,308–report
April 10, 1991Rainbow Trout7,055–report
April 10, 1991Rainbow Trout25,945–report
November 29, 1990Atlantic Salmon20,000–report
May 1, 1990Rainbow Trout1,500–report
April 30, 1990Rainbow Trout8,500–report
April 17, 1990Atlantic Salmon13,927–report
April 16, 1990Atlantic Salmon6,080–report
April 16, 1990Brown Trout10,000–report
April 5, 1990Lake Trout29,500–report
April 4, 1990Splake30,000–report
September 11, 1989Rainbow Trout25,051–report
May 30, 1989Rainbow Trout25,000–report
May 23, 1989Brown Trout11,970–report
May 22, 1989Brown Trout11,970–report
May 12, 1989Brown Trout11,060–report
May 12, 1989Rainbow Trout2,122–report
May 11, 1989Rainbow Trout4,200–report
May 10, 1989Rainbow Trout13,378–report
May 9, 1989Rainbow Trout13,978–report
May 9, 1988Rainbow Trout7,651–report
May 6, 1988Brown Trout4,800–report
May 5, 1988Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 4, 1988Brown Trout11,122–report
May 3, 1988Brown Trout19,088–report
April 7, 1988Lake Trout150,000–report
April 7, 1988Splake23,000–report
December 2, 1987Lake Trout1,100–report
December 2, 1987Lake Trout450–report
May 22, 1987Brown Trout14,362–report
April 25, 1987Lake Trout20,330–report
April 23, 1987Brown Trout8,912–report
April 16, 1987Splake29,975–report
April 14, 1987Splake5,000–report
October 4, 1986Atlantic Salmon25,000–report
June 9, 1986Brown Trout4,600–report
June 9, 1986Rainbow Trout8,000–report
May 7, 1986Splake23,400–report
May 2, 1986Brown Trout21,400–report
October 3, 1985Splake25,000–report
May 9, 1985Splake12,500–report
May 7, 1985Splake12,500–report
May 7, 1985Brown Trout20,330–report
April 17, 1985Lake Trout25,000–report
December 10, 1984Lake Trout300–report
September 19, 1984Brown Trout25,000–report
August 30, 1984Lake Trout100,000–report
May 8, 1984Brown Trout25,000–report
April 27, 1984Splake25,000–report
May 16, 1983Splake2,500–report
May 13, 1983Lake Trout25,000–report
May 9, 1983Splake11,250–report
May 9, 1983Splake11,250–report
April 21, 1983Brown Trout26,900–report
May 21, 1982Atlantic Salmon1,629–report
May 14, 1982Splake12,500–report
May 14, 1982Splake12,500–report
May 3, 1982Brown Trout10,000–report
May 3, 1982Brown Trout10,000–report
April 27, 1982Lake Trout25,000–report
June 8, 1981Brown Trout5,000–report
May 12, 1981Brown Trout11,680–report
May 12, 1981Brown Trout8,320–report
April 30, 1981Splake16,000–report
April 27, 1981Lake Trout25,000–report
April 27, 1981Splake6,000–report
May 2, 1980Lake Trout50,000–report
April 30, 1980Brown Trout12,500–report
April 29, 1980Brown Trout12,500–report
May 16, 1979Lake Trout50,000–report
April 23, 1979Brown Trout17,000–report

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Roscommon, MI
Facilities
restrooms, camping, dock

Summer fishing is mostly by boat because the shoreline has extensive shallows. Public launches: the DNR west-shore site off Old US-27 (6 lanes), North Higgins Lake State Park (2 skid piers) and South Higgins Lake State Park (9-launch boat basin, boat wash). 86 road ends also reach the lake.

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

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.

About Higgins Lake

Anglers should be aware of the introduction of zebra mussels, which have no known predators in U.S. waters. These mussels threaten native clams and result in more vegetation growing on the bottom of Higgins Lake. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

Photo of Higgins Lake
HollywoodGuard, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Higgins Lake
Hgjudd, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo of Higgins Lake
JJWolfe, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Margrethe 12.6 mi last stocked June 29, 2026 Howes Lake 15.4 mi last stocked April 23, 1984 Sand Hill Lake 16.9 mi last stocked May 6, 2002 Cub Lake 20.3 mi last stocked October 23, 2024 Hoister Lake 24.1 mi last stocked April 27, 2020

Common questions

What fish are at Higgins Lake?

Fishing Higgins Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 99 of 282 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and 3 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 15, 2026. Brown Trout was last stocked April 16, 2026. Lake Trout was last stocked April 14, 2026. Splake was last stocked June 6, 1994. 1 more species is on the stocking report.

When is Higgins Lake stocked?

Last stocked April 16, 2026. It is stocked about 5.9 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. About 436 reported fish per acre, 4th most of 5 lakes in Crawford County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How do you get on Higgins Lake?

The nearest town is Roscommon, MI. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and dock. Summer fishing is mostly by boat because the shoreline has extensive shallows. Public launches: the DNR west-shore site off Old US-27 (6 lanes), North Higgins Lake State Park (2 skid piers) and South Higgins Lake State Park (9-launch boat basin, boat wash). 86 road ends also reach the lake.

Which lakes near Higgins Lake were stocked more recently?

Lake Margrethe (12.6 mi) was stocked more recently.

Sources (9) +