Lake Macatawa fishing

Lake Macatawa fishing has Muskellunge, Walleye, Tiger Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, and Lake Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Bluegill, Crappie, Smallmouth bass, and Northern pike. It is stocked about 2.5 times a year since 1979, most often in April and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth bass, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Crappie, and dawn for Lake Trout.

Lake Macatawa
Photo: brewbooks (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0
Last stocked
June 9, 2026
· Walleye
Plants on record
118
Since 1979
Species stocked
6 (+4 also recorded)
Surface acres
1,817.4

Fish at Lake Macatawa

6 stocked · 4 confirmed present

Walleye Stocked · 66 plants · last June 9, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked June 9, 2026 · 66 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Muskellunge Stocked · 26 plants · last November 13, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked November 13, 2024 · 26 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Muskellunge species guide
Lake Trout Stocked · 10 plants · last April 3, 2017 Best: dawn

Last stocked April 3, 2017 · 10 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 1 plant · last October 21, 1992 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked October 21, 1992 · 1 plant

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide

How Lake Macatawa is stocked

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

No plants recorded in 8 years between 1979 and 2026.

Fish stocked in 1979

42,146

Fish stocked in 1980

135,553

Fish stocked in 1981

872,750

Fish stocked in 1982

1,185,000

Fish stocked in 1984

1,000,000

Fish stocked in 1985

1,000,000

Fish stocked in 1986

650,000

Fish stocked in 1987

1,005,000

Fish stocked in 1988

1,076,500

Fish stocked in 1989

1,035,000

Fish stocked in 1990

500,000

Fish stocked in 1991

3,239,700

Fish stocked in 1992

10,432

Fish stocked in 1994

3,500,000

Fish stocked in 1995

6,000,000

Fish stocked in 1997

1,652,704

Fish stocked in 1999

1,600,000

Fish stocked in 2001

1,200,000

Fish stocked in 2003

3,250,000

Fish stocked in 2006

4,105,330

Fish stocked in 2007

44,284

Fish stocked in 2008

101,261

Fish stocked in 2009

135,752

Fish stocked in 2010

108,031

Fish stocked in 2011

83,785

Fish stocked in 2012

174,968

Fish stocked in 2013

41,601

Fish stocked in 2014

133,318

Fish stocked in 2015

790,920

Fish stocked in 2016

86,798

Fish stocked in 2017

92,115

Fish stocked in 2018

150,414

Fish stocked in 2019

87,016

Fish stocked in 2020

75,772

Fish stocked in 2021

41,964

Fish stocked in 2022

141,577

Fish stocked in 2023

118,561

Fish stocked in 2024

30,676

Fish stocked in 2025

16,625

Fish stocked in 2026

51,049

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 9, 2026Walleye51,049–report
June 5, 2025Walleye16,625–report
November 13, 2024Muskellunge2,546–report
October 5, 2024Walleye610–report
June 8, 2024Walleye27,520–report
October 10, 2023Walleye527–report
June 8, 2023Walleye44,879–report
June 8, 2023Walleye31,175–report
June 8, 2023Walleye31,175–report
June 7, 2023Walleye10,805–report
November 3, 2022Muskellunge2,548–report
October 19, 2022Walleye497–report
June 8, 2022Walleye48,000–report
June 2, 2022Walleye37,838–report
May 6, 2022Chinook Salmon52,694–report
November 3, 2021Walleye307–report
August 26, 2021Muskellunge36,657–report
June 6, 2021Walleye5,000–report
April 27, 2020Chinook Salmon75,772–report
June 13, 2019Walleye44,000–report
June 6, 2019Walleye43,016–report
August 27, 2018Muskellunge17,636–report
August 15, 2018Muskellunge7,860–report
June 6, 2018Walleye43,280–report
June 5, 2018Walleye41,685–report
May 9, 2018Chinook Salmon39,953–report
October 5, 2017Walleye279–report
June 5, 2017Walleye72,536–report
April 3, 2017Lake Trout19,300–report
October 25, 2016Walleye483–report
June 3, 2016Walleye46,728–report
May 20, 2016Chinook Salmon15,127–report
April 13, 2016Lake Trout24,460–report
October 13, 2015Walleye230–report
July 9, 2015Muskellunge49,952–report
June 4, 2015Walleye50,381–report
May 9, 2015Chinook Salmon16,068–report
May 5, 2015Walleye650,000–report
April 8, 2015Lake Trout24,289–report
October 29, 2014Muskellunge2,669–report
June 26, 2014Walleye91,285–report
May 8, 2014Chinook Salmon15,076–report
April 21, 2014Lake Trout24,288–report
November 13, 2013Muskellunge2,659–report
May 13, 2013Chinook Salmon15,039–report
April 15, 2013Lake Trout23,903–report
November 13, 2012Muskellunge3,399–report
May 22, 2012Walleye85,098–report
May 3, 2012Chinook Salmon45,520–report
March 20, 2012Lake Trout25,105–report
March 20, 2012Lake Trout15,846–report
May 12, 2011Chinook Salmon43,800–report
March 31, 2011Lake Trout19,995–report
March 31, 2011Lake Trout19,990–report
June 3, 2010Walleye760–report
June 3, 2010Walleye10,015–report
June 2, 2010Walleye7,455–report
May 14, 2010Chinook Salmon44,831–report
March 22, 2010Lake Trout44,970–report
June 2, 2009Walleye90,734–report
May 20, 2009Chinook Salmon45,018–report
June 18, 2008Walleye58,841–report
May 13, 2008Chinook Salmon42,420–report
May 10, 2007Chinook Salmon44,284–report
May 19, 2006Chinook Salmon44,605–report
May 4, 2006Walleye2,015,925–report
May 4, 2006Walleye2,044,800–report
May 9, 2003Walleye1,250,000–report
April 25, 2003Walleye550,000–report
April 22, 2003Walleye1,450,000–report
May 10, 2001Walleye500,000–report
April 30, 2001Walleye700,000–report
April 27, 1999Walleye650,000–report
April 23, 1999Walleye950,000–report
September 19, 1997Muskellunge2,704–report
April 21, 1997Walleye1,650,000–report
May 2, 1995Walleye700,000–report
April 26, 1995Walleye1,700,000–report
April 21, 1995Walleye1,300,000–report
April 17, 1995Walleye2,300,000–report
May 2, 1994Walleye400,000–report
April 28, 1994Walleye3,100,000–report
October 21, 1992Largemouth Bass10,432–report
April 29, 1991Walleye250,000–report
April 17, 1991Walleye2,989,700–report
April 23, 1990Walleye500,000–report
May 10, 1989Walleye1,035,000–report
May 5, 1988Muskellunge76,500–report
April 25, 1988Walleye1,000,000–report
October 9, 1987Tiger Muskie3,015–report
September 23, 1987Muskellunge1,985–report
April 18, 1987Walleye1,000,000–report
April 28, 1986Walleye650,000–report
April 26, 1985Walleye500,000–report
April 26, 1985Walleye500,000–report
April 20, 1984Walleye1,000,000–report
June 11, 1982Muskellunge80,000–report
May 27, 1982Muskellunge105,000–report
April 28, 1982Walleye1,000,000–report
August 10, 1981Muskellunge3,000–report
May 8, 1981Muskellunge12,750–report
April 20, 1981Walleye75,000–report
April 20, 1981Walleye260,667–report
April 20, 1981Walleye260,666–report
April 20, 1981Walleye260,667–report
September 5, 1980Muskellunge1,334–report
September 5, 1980Muskellunge666–report
June 13, 1980Muskellunge66,013–report
May 23, 1980Muskellunge67,540–report
August 23, 1979Walleye5,320–report
August 8, 1979Walleye508–report
July 26, 1979Walleye678–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report
June 28, 1979Muskellunge5,940–report

Access and facts

Nearest town
Holland
Facilities
restrooms, dock, cleaning station

The main MDNR launch is on Ottawa Beach Road about 1 mile east of Holland State Park: 6 lanes, 3 piers, 161 trailer spaces, a toilet and a fish cleaning station. The City of Holland (Kollen Park) and Holland Township (Dunton Park) run the other two listed launches.

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

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.

About Lake Macatawa

Photo of Lake Macatawa
brewbooks (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0

Nearest lakes

Hutchins Lake 14 mi last stocked May 26, 1998 Dumont Lake 20.2 mi last stocked October 9, 1991 Spring Lake 21.7 mi last stocked November 13, 2024 Miner Lake 24 mi last stocked May 24, 1996 Osterhout Lake 24.8 mi last stocked October 30, 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Macatawa?

Fishing Lake Macatawa usually means Walleye: Walleye accounts for 66 of 118 plants on record, ahead of Muskellunge and 4 more. Walleye was last stocked June 9, 2026. Muskellunge was last stocked November 13, 2024. Chinook Salmon was last stocked May 6, 2022. Lake Trout was last stocked April 3, 2017. 2 more species are on the stocking report. Bluegill, Crappie, Smallmouth bass, and Northern pike are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Macatawa stocked?

Last stocked June 9, 2026. It is stocked about 2.5 times a year since 1979, most often in April and June. No plants recorded in 8 years between 1979 and 2026.

How do you get on Lake Macatawa?

The nearest town is Holland. Facilities include restrooms, dock, and cleaning station. The main MDNR launch is on Ottawa Beach Road about 1 mile east of Holland State Park: 6 lanes, 3 piers, 161 trailer spaces, a toilet and a fish cleaning station. The City of Holland (Kollen Park) and Holland Township (Dunton Park) run the other two listed launches.

Sources (6) +