Lake Chapin fishing

Fishing at Lake Chapin is on a reservoir, stocked with Tiger Muskie and Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 1.2 times a year since 1979, most often in March and August. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

March 30, 1984

Plants on record

7

Since 1979

Species recorded

2

Surface acres

487.6

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Berrien Springs
Boat ramp
Yes

A 600-acre impoundment of the St. Joseph River, formed by a dam built in 1908. Access includes the Miami Marina Boat Launch in Buchanan and the members-only Berrien Springs Boat Club near the dam.

Sources: water_type , access , nearest_town , fishing_notes

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How Lake Chapin is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of August. In 1984 it was March 30, 1984, earlier than usual.

About 40 reported fish per acre, the fewest of 3 lakes in Berrien County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Singer Lake (5.8 mi), Magician Lake (13.2 mi), Garver Lake (18.4 mi), and Diamond Lake (18.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Singer Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Garver Lake is also stocked with Tiger Muskie.

Fish at Lake Chapin

Fishing Lake Chapin is most likely to be for Tiger Muskie. Tiger Muskie accounts for 6 of 7 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout.

Tiger Muskie 6 plants
Plants
6 of 7
Last stocked
August 9, 1983

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Muskie guide.

Rainbow Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 7
Last stocked
March 30, 1984

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fishing Lake Chapin

600-acre Lake Chapin offers abundant fishing. This lake is not unkind to fishermen, either. They may find themselves with buckets of bass, walleye, salmon and steelhead. The lake is tucked between St. Joseph Valley Parkway and M-139.

Sources: villageofberriensprings.com

Fish stocked per year

  • 2,5001979
  • 3,0001980
  • 1,2001981
  • 3,0001982
  • 2,5001983
  • 7,5001984

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
March 30, 1984 Rainbow Trout 7,500 – report
August 9, 1983 Tiger Muskie 1,000 – report
August 3, 1983 Tiger Muskie 1,500 – report
August 4, 1982 Tiger Muskie 3,000 – report
August 11, 1981 Tiger Muskie 1,200 – report
August 18, 1980 Tiger Muskie 3,000 – report
June 1, 1979 Tiger Muskie 2,500 – report

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