High Banks Lake fishing

Fishing at High Banks Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Splake, Brook Trout, and Pumpkinseed. It is stocked about once a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout.

Last stocked

May 7, 2026

Plants on record

48

Since 1979

Species recorded

3

Surface acres

14

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Strongs Corners, MI
Boat ramp
No

A carry-in access site on the north end of the lake is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service; a 2023 MDNR report recommended the unimproved ramp/access site be improved. This 14-acre seepage lake has no inlet or outlet streams.

Sources: water_type , access , shore_notes , nearest_town

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How High Banks Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of May. In 2026 it was May 7, 2026, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 1986, 1989, and 1994.

About 5,675 reported fish per acre, the most of 9 lakes in Chippewa County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Naomikong Pond (8.3 mi) and Naomikong Lake (8.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Naomikong Pond is also stocked with Brook Trout and Naomikong Lake is also stocked with Brook Trout.

Fish at High Banks Lake

Fishing High Banks Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 42 of 48 plants on record, ahead of Splake and one more.

Rainbow Trout 42 plants
Plants
42 of 48
Last stocked
May 7, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Splake 5 plants
Plants
5 of 48
Last stocked
May 16, 1985

Seasons and rigs are on the Splake guide.

Brook Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 48
Last stocked
November 2, 2009

Seasons and rigs are on the Brook Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 8001979
  • 8001980
  • 1,0001981
  • 1,0001982
  • 1,0001983
  • 9651984
  • 1,0001985
  • 2,8091987
  • 2,0001988
  • 1,9001990
  • 1,4001991
  • 1,9001992
  • 1,6401993
  • 1,9001995
  • 1,8151996
  • 1,9001997
  • 1,8501998
  • 1,9001999
  • 4,5002000
  • 2,4002001
  • 2,4002002
  • 2,3002003
  • 2,3992004
  • 2,6392005
  • 1,8972006
  • 1,0002007
  • 1,0002008
  • 3,8982009
  • 1,8492010
  • 1,8982011
  • 1,7002012
  • 1,4582013
  • 1,5642014
  • 1,7822015
  • 1,6202016
  • 1,6032017
  • 1,6192018
  • 1,7812019
  • 1,3002020
  • 1,4582021
  • 1,4582022
  • 1,4802023
  • 1,3752024
  • 1,7952025
  • 1,7002026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 48 plants Showing 48 plants

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 7, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,700 – report
May 19, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,795 – report
April 30, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,375 – report
May 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,480 – report
May 16, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,458 – report
May 6, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,458 – report
May 11, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,300 – report
May 21, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,781 – report
May 22, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,619 – report
May 17, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,603 – report
May 10, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,620 – report
April 30, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,782 – report
June 4, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,564 – report
May 23, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,458 – report
May 3, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,700 – report
May 6, 2011 Rainbow Trout 1,898 – report
April 22, 2010 Rainbow Trout 1,849 – report
November 2, 2009 Brook Trout 1,998 – report
April 30, 2009 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 12, 2008 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
May 9, 2007 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 24, 2006 Rainbow Trout 1,897 – report
May 2, 2005 Rainbow Trout 2,639 – report
May 6, 2004 Rainbow Trout 150 – report
April 22, 2004 Rainbow Trout 2,249 – report
May 5, 2003 Rainbow Trout 2,300 – report
May 1, 2002 Rainbow Trout 2,400 – report
May 2, 2001 Rainbow Trout 900 – report
April 25, 2001 Rainbow Trout 1,500 – report
September 27, 2000 Rainbow Trout 4,500 – report
May 17, 1999 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 11, 1998 Rainbow Trout 1,850 – report
May 13, 1997 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 29, 1996 Rainbow Trout 1,815 – report
May 16, 1995 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 17, 1993 Rainbow Trout 1,640 – report
June 1, 1992 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 30, 1991 Rainbow Trout 1,400 – report
May 29, 1990 Rainbow Trout 1,900 – report
May 12, 1988 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
May 20, 1987 Rainbow Trout 2,809 – report
May 16, 1985 Splake 1,000 – report
May 24, 1984 Splake 965 – report
May 11, 1983 Splake 1,000 – report
May 28, 1982 Splake 1,000 – report
June 11, 1981 Splake 1,000 – report
May 30, 1980 Rainbow Trout 800 – report
June 26, 1979 Rainbow Trout 800 – report
Show 33 more plants Show less

Species found here

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

  • Pumpkinseed : Dominated the 2023 MDNR survey catch by number (2-5 inches, slow-growing); likely bait-bucket introduced, since the lake has no inlet/outlet. 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