Starvation Lake

Starvation Lake fishing

Fishing at Starvation Lake has Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 2 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

April 20, 2026

Plants on record

98

Since 1979

Species recorded

2

Surface acres

98.8

Access and facts

Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, dock

A spring-fed lake in Kalkaska County known locally for its fishing. A DNR-listed public boating access site with 1 launch lane and 1 pier serves the lake. Administered by Hartwick Pines State Park; a Recreation Passport is required. 1 toilet on site.

Sources: access , shore_notes , facilities , access.fee , shore_notes

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How Starvation Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of April. In 2026 it was April 20, 2026, about when it usually is.

About 2,092 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 8 lakes in Kalkaska County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Manistee Lake (5.7 mi) was stocked more recently.

Fish at Starvation Lake

Fishing Starvation Lake is most likely to be for Brown Trout. Brown Trout accounts for 53 of 98 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout.

Brown Trout 53 plants
Plants
53 of 98
Last stocked
April 20, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Rainbow Trout 45 plants
Plants
45 of 98
Last stocked
April 20, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 1,0001979
  • 2,0001980
  • 2,0001981
  • 2,0001982
  • 2,0001983
  • 2,0001984
  • 1,5301985
  • 2,5701986
  • 2,1001987
  • 1,9001988
  • 1,9001989
  • 1,9001990
  • 1,9201991
  • 1,9801992
  • 1,8601993
  • 2,0001994
  • 1,9301995
  • 1,9331996
  • 1,9981997
  • 1,9801998
  • 1,9701999
  • 2,2702000
  • 2,0302001
  • 2,4002002
  • 2,1682003
  • 4,1002004
  • 4,2002005
  • 4,9962006
  • 3,8902007
  • 4,2002008
  • 4,1402009
  • 9,0502010
  • 9,0482011
  • 11,4472012
  • 9,0502013
  • 6,6732014
  • 7,1852015
  • 6,6992016
  • 7,1842017
  • 11,9502018
  • 7,0232019
  • 6,7192020
  • 6,6502021
  • 6,6952022
  • 6,2152023
  • 6,7852024
  • 6,8002025
  • 6,6002026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 98 plants Showing 98 plants

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 20, 2026 Rainbow Trout 3,500 – report
April 20, 2026 Brown Trout 3,100 – report
April 22, 2025 Brown Trout 3,300 – report
April 22, 2025 Rainbow Trout 3,500 – report
April 2, 2024 Brown Trout 3,100 – report
April 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 3,685 – report
April 19, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,200 – report
April 19, 2023 Brown Trout 3,015 – report
April 21, 2022 Brown Trout 3,345 – report
April 21, 2022 Rainbow Trout 3,350 – report
April 15, 2021 Rainbow Trout 3,350 – report
April 5, 2021 Brown Trout 3,300 – report
April 27, 2020 Rainbow Trout 3,200 – report
April 15, 2020 Brown Trout 3,519 – report
May 2, 2019 Rainbow Trout 3,684 – report
April 16, 2019 Brown Trout 1,670 – report
April 16, 2019 Brown Trout 1,669 – report
October 29, 2018 Rainbow Trout 5,000 – report
May 15, 2018 Brown Trout 3,350 – report
April 30, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,600 – report
April 13, 2017 Brown Trout 3,500 – report
April 13, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,684 – report
May 5, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,349 – report
April 18, 2016 Brown Trout 3,350 – report
April 15, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,500 – report
April 15, 2015 Brown Trout 3,685 – report
May 28, 2014 Brown Trout 3,350 – report
April 28, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,323 – report
April 30, 2013 Rainbow Trout 2,800 – report
April 30, 2013 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
April 30, 2013 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
November 14, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,497 – report
April 30, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,700 – report
April 30, 2012 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
April 30, 2012 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
April 26, 2011 Brown Trout 3,124 – report
April 26, 2011 Brown Trout 3,124 – report
April 26, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,800 – report
April 16, 2010 Rainbow Trout 2,800 – report
April 7, 2010 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
April 7, 2010 Brown Trout 3,125 – report
April 22, 2009 Rainbow Trout 2,100 – report
April 22, 2009 Brown Trout 2,040 – report
April 22, 2008 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 22, 2008 Rainbow Trout 2,200 – report
April 17, 2007 Brown Trout 1,795 – report
April 17, 2007 Rainbow Trout 2,095 – report
May 17, 2006 Rainbow Trout 998 – report
April 14, 2006 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
April 14, 2006 Brown Trout 1,998 – report
April 20, 2005 Rainbow Trout 2,200 – report
April 20, 2005 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 6, 2004 Rainbow Trout 2,100 – report
April 6, 2004 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 25, 2003 Rainbow Trout 1,149 – report
April 23, 2003 Brown Trout 1,019 – report
May 8, 2002 Rainbow Trout 1,200 – report
May 1, 2002 Brown Trout 1,200 – report
April 25, 2001 Brown Trout 1,030 – report
April 25, 2001 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 10, 2000 Rainbow Trout 1,070 – report
April 5, 2000 Brown Trout 1,200 – report
April 8, 1999 Rainbow Trout 970 – report
April 8, 1999 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
April 15, 1998 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 15, 1998 Brown Trout 980 – report
May 6, 1997 Rainbow Trout 999 – report
May 6, 1997 Brown Trout 999 – report
May 20, 1996 Brown Trout 934 – report
May 20, 1996 Rainbow Trout 999 – report
April 28, 1995 Brown Trout 930 – report
April 28, 1995 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
May 17, 1994 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 22, 1994 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
April 21, 1993 Rainbow Trout 870 – report
April 19, 1993 Brown Trout 990 – report
May 6, 1992 Brown Trout 980 – report
April 30, 1992 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 17, 1991 Rainbow Trout 920 – report
April 15, 1991 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
April 25, 1990 Brown Trout 900 – report
April 19, 1990 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
April 20, 1989 Rainbow Trout 900 – report
April 20, 1989 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
April 19, 1988 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
April 19, 1988 Rainbow Trout 900 – report
May 8, 1987 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
May 8, 1987 Rainbow Trout 1,100 – report
September 11, 1986 Rainbow Trout 750 – report
May 1, 1986 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
May 1, 1986 Brown Trout 820 – report
May 23, 1985 Brown Trout 1,530 – report
May 14, 1984 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 25, 1983 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
May 3, 1982 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
May 13, 1981 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 14, 1980 Brown Trout 2,000 – report
April 30, 1979 Brown Trout 1,000 – report
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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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