Northern Pike Stocked · 1 plant · last June 12, 1995 Best: dawn, day, dusk South Bar Lake fishing
South Bar Lake fishing: not stocked since June 12, 1995. It was stocked with Northern Pike. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk as the active times.
- Last stocked
- June 12, 1995
- · Northern Pike
- Plants on record
- 1
- Since 1995
- Species recorded
- 1
- Surface acres
- 77.6
Fish at South Bar Lake
Northern Pike Stocked · 1 plant · last June 12, 1995 Best: dawn, day, dusk Among the fish present in the lake are bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. Additionally, Johnny darter and Iowa darter can also be found in South Bar Lake. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How South Bar Lake is stocked
About 7.7 reported fish per acre, the fewest of 4 lakes in Leelanau County with both a fish count and a surface area.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 12, 1995 | Northern Pike | 600 | – | report |
Access and facts
- Nearest town
- Empire
- Facilities
- dock
Lake Michigan Beach Park, a Village of Empire park just west of downtown, fronts South Bar Lake with a boat launch, a fishing dock, a swimming dock, a pavilion and picnic grills. The public swimming beach is on the lake's west side.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.
About South Bar Lake
Nearest lakes
Public land at South Bar Lake
South Bar Lake is 0.7 miles outside the edge of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at South Bar Lake?
Fishing South Bar Lake usually means Northern Pike. The one plant on record is Northern Pike. Northern Pike was last stocked June 12, 1995.
When is South Bar Lake stocked?
Not stocked since June 12, 1995. About 7.7 reported fish per acre, the fewest of 4 lakes in Leelanau County with both a fish count and a surface area.
How do you get on South Bar Lake?
The nearest town is Empire. Facilities include dock. Lake Michigan Beach Park, a Village of Empire park just west of downtown, fronts South Bar Lake with a boat launch, a fishing dock, a swimming dock, a pavilion and picnic grills. The public swimming beach is on the lake's west side.
Which lakes near South Bar Lake were stocked more recently?
Glen Lake (5.5 mi), Platte Lake (9.1 mi), Upper Herring Lake (18.8 mi), and Lower Herring Lake (19.1 mi) were stocked more recently.