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Harper Lake

πŸ“ Lake County, Michigan

Harper Lake is a fishing water in Lake County, Michigan (Central Lake Michigan management unit).

34
Fish species
1
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today D 40/100 Below-average Last stocked Oct 7, 2020 Yellow Perch, 6.1 years ago Keeper size (estimated) No estimate Not enough size data Access 1 boat launch Public access

πŸ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Harper Lake looks for the day you pick (today by default), from 0 to 100. It adds up five things: how recently the lake was stocked, the moon phase, the season, how many game and panfish species live here (such as bluegill, brown trout and largemouth bass), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

D
40/100
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Conditions score

Below-average, consider a different lake or time of day.

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Oct 7, 2020
Last: Oct 7, 2020
πŸŒ— Moon Phase
Last Quarter
Feeding bonus
πŸƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
🐟 Species
7 game species present
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Harper Lake Today

Fall fish at Harper Lake are feeding heavily before winter. Match the forage: shad, crawfish, and perch patterns work well.

πŸ“Š Fishing Pressure

Fishing pressure is our estimate of how busy Harper Lake is likely to be today. It looks at the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the lake has been stocked recently, because fresh stockings tend to draw anglers. Lower pressure usually means more room to work the water for bluegill, brown trout and largemouth bass.

Moderate estimated pressure today
Weekend Popular stocking lake

Moderate activity expected. Midweek mornings are typically quieter.

Estimate based on day of week, season, and recent stocking. Not a live crowd count.

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πŸ“… Best Time to Fish Harper Lake

Combined bite activity across all 34 species in this lake.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

πŸ“ Fishing Regulations

Statewide general rules for the species found here. Individual waters can have exceptions (special size limits, closed seasons, trout lake types), so check this lake's listing in the official DNR Fishing Guide before heading out.
SpeciesMin sizeDaily limit
BluegillNone25 sunfish combined
Brown Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Largemouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Rainbow Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Yellow PerchNone25
Hybrid SunfishNone25 sunfish combined
πŸ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
5 Stocking events
7,000 Fish stocked
2 Species
2217d Since last stock
399d Longest gap
Hybrid Sunfish 5,000
Yellow Perch 2,000
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Jun '17
May '18
Jun '19
Apr '20
Oct '20

πŸ“‹ Harper Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Oct 7, 2020 Yellow Perch 1,000 4.5"
Apr 30, 2020 Yellow Perch 1,000 4.5"
Jun 6, 2019 Hybrid Sunfish 1,000 5.0"
May 3, 2018 Hybrid Sunfish 2,100 5.0"
Jun 8, 2017 Hybrid Sunfish 1,900 5.0"
May 26, 2016 Hybrid Sunfish 900 5.0"
May 27, 2015 Fathead Minnow 625 3.0"
May 27, 2015 Hybrid Sunfish 625 5.0"
May 20, 2014 Fathead Minnow 11,000 2.0"
May 20, 2014 Hybrid Sunfish 1,281 4.0"
May 28, 2013 Fathead Minnow 5,500 1.5"
May 28, 2013 Hybrid Sunfish 1,322 4.0"
Apr 25, 2012 Hybrid Sunfish 1,320 3.0"
Jun 8, 2010 Yellow Perch 50 4.5"
Jun 8, 2010 Hybrid Sunfish 662 4.5"
May 3, 2004 Brown Trout 1,999 7.1"
Apr 5, 2004 Fathead Minnow 35,000 2.0"
Apr 5, 2004 Hybrid Sunfish 500 5.0"
May 13, 2003 Brown Trout 5,000 7.0"
May 2, 2002 Brown Trout 2,490 6.1"
Apr 13, 2001 Brown Trout 2,470 6.8"
Apr 18, 2000 Brown Trout 5,000 6.6"
May 14, 1999 Brown Trout 2,000 6.4"
Apr 9, 1998 Brown Trout 1,980 5.5"
Apr 21, 1997 Brown Trout 3,799 5.9"
Showing 25 of 40 stocking records, newest first

* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.

πŸ“… Stocking Forecast

Based on 40 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Apr.
Peak Stocking Months
Apr May Jun
Most Stocked Species
Brown Trout Hybrid Sunfish Rainbow Trout

* Forecast is based on historical DNR data and is not a guarantee of future stocking.

βš“ Harper Lake Boat Launches (1)

One public access site is listed for Harper Lake. Select a launch for details. Details come from the Michigan DNR boating access data and can change, so check posted signs on site. See all Lake County boat launches.

Harper Lake Paved ramp Fee required 1 trailer lane 7 parking
Amenities
Vault toilet, Boating pier, AIS signage, Accessible pier, Accessible restrooms
Hours
Open at all times
Phone
231-745-9465
Record updated
April 2026
Full details πŸ—Ί Directions

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Harper Lake

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🌀 Current Harper Lake Weather Conditions

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