Manistique Lake

Manistique Lake fishing

Fishing at Manistique Lake has Walleye, Lake Sturgeon, and Muskellunge on the stocking report. It is stocked about 0.4 times a year since 1979, most often in May and August. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and dawn and dusk for Muskellunge.

Last stocked

May 13, 2005

Plants on record

10

Since 1979

Species recorded

3

Surface acres

10,344.1

Access and facts

Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, dock

Called Big Manistique Lake locally; one of the largest lakes in the Upper Peninsula, draining toward Lake Michigan. 5 DNR-listed boating access sites serve the lake, the largest with 1 launch lane. 4 toilets on site.

Sources: access , shore_notes , facilities , shore_notes

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How Manistique Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of August. In 2005 it was May 13, 2005, earlier than usual.

No plants recorded in 18 years between 1979 and 2005.

About 163 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 7 lakes in Mackinac County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Millecoquins Pond (12.1 mi), Buckies Pond (14.2 mi), Millecoquins Lake (14.2 mi), and Wolverine Lake (14.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Millecoquins Lake is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Manistique Lake

Fishing Manistique Lake is most likely to be for Lake Sturgeon. Lake Sturgeon accounts for 5 of 10 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and one more.

Lake Sturgeon 5 plants
Plants
5 of 10
Last stocked
September 15, 1993
Walleye 4 plants
Plants
4 of 10
Last stocked
May 13, 2005

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Muskellunge 1 plant
Plants
1 of 10
Last stocked
November 9, 2004

Seasons and rigs are on the Muskellunge guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 350,0001979
  • 300,0001980
  • 2,9001983
  • 10,0001984
  • 3,7421988
  • 6,8981990
  • 7,6361993
  • 3,2392004
  • 1,000,0002005

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 13, 2005 Walleye 1,000,000 – report
November 9, 2004 Muskellunge 3,239 – report
September 15, 1993 Lake Sturgeon 7,636 – report
August 6, 1990 Lake Sturgeon 6,898 – report
August 9, 1988 Lake Sturgeon 3,742 – report
August 17, 1984 Lake Sturgeon 10,000 – report
August 15, 1983 Lake Sturgeon 2,900 – report
May 13, 1980 Walleye 200,000 – report
May 12, 1980 Walleye 100,000 – report
May 24, 1979 Walleye 350,000 – 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.

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