← Van Buren County

Paw Paw Lake

📍 Van Buren County, Michigan

Popular southwest Michigan lake near Coloma. Excellent largemouth bass and walleye. Close to Lake Michigan for salmon access.

1,000
Acres
42 ft
Max depth
55
Fish species
2
Boat launches
✓
Public access
🔔
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📊 Fishing Pressure

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💡 Angler Tips for Paw Paw Lake

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🐟 Fish Species in Paw Paw Lake

Flathead Catfish Good
Pylodictis olivaris
Largemouth Bass Excellent
Micropterus salmoides
Black Crappie Good
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bluegill Good
Lepomis macrochirus
Chinook Salmon Good
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Coho Salmon Good
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Rainbow Trout Good
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Walleye Good
Sander vitreus
White Crappie Good
Pomoxis annularis
Yellow Perch Good
Perca flavescens
Gizzard Shad Good
Dorosoma cepedianum
Golden Shiner Good
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Orangespotted Sunfish Good
Lepomis humilis
Redear Sunfish Good
Lepomis microlophus
Warmouth Good
Lepomis gulosus
Bowfin Good
Amia calva
Brown Bullhead Good
Ameiurus nebulosus
Common Carp Good
Cyprinus carpio
Green Sunfish Good
Lepomis cyanellus
Longnose Gar Good
Lepisosteus osseus
Pumpkinseed Good
Lepomis gibbosus
Grass Pickerel Fair
Esox americanus vermiculatus
Yellow Bullhead Fair
Ameiurus natalis
Bigmouth Buffalo Good
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo Good
Ictiobus niger
Blackstripe Topminnow Good
Fundulus notatus
Bluntnose Minnow Good
Pimephales notatus
Brook Silverside Good
Labidesthes sicculus
Central Mudminnow Good
Umbra limi
Common Shiner Good
Luxilus cornutus
Deepwater Sculpin Good
Myoxocephalus thompsonii
Emerald Shiner Good
Notropis atherinoides
Fathead Minnow Good
Pimephales promelas
Ghost Shiner Good
Notropis buchanani
Golden Redhorse Good
Moxostoma erythrurum
Goldfish Good
Carassius auratus
Lake Chubsucker Good
Erimyzon sucetta
Mimic Shiner Good
Notropis volucellus
Pirate Perch Good
Aphredoderus sayanus
Pugnose Minnow Good
Opsopoeodus emiliae
Quillback Good
Carpiodes cyprinus
Redfin Shiner Good
Lythrurus umbratilis
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Silver Chub Good
Macrhybopsis storeriana
Silver Redhorse Good
Moxostoma anisurum
Spoonhead Sculpin Good
Cottus ricei
Spotfin Shiner Good
Cyprinella spiloptera
Spottail Shiner Good
Notropis hudsonius
Spotted Sucker Good
Minytrema melanops
Starhead Topminnow Good
Fundulus dispar
Trout-Perch Good
Percopsis omiscomaycus
Western Banded Killifish Good
Fundulus diaphanus
Western Creek Chubsucker Good
Erimyzon oblongus
White Sucker Good
Catostomus commersonii
Caught something here? Log your catch

📋 Paw Paw Lake Stocking Records

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13 recent stocking records locked — subscribe to see the full history. Fishing+ — $4.99/mo
Oct 6, 2021 Walleye 253 5.6"
Apr 20, 2021 Rainbow Trout 3,150 6.3"
Oct 31, 2020 Walleye 500 7.0"
Apr 8, 2020 Rainbow Trout 3,000 6.7"
Oct 4, 2019 Walleye 301 4.4"
Oct 1, 2019 Walleye 760 4.6"
Apr 24, 2019 Rainbow Trout 3,465 6.2"
Nov 5, 2018 Walleye 500 7.0"
Apr 24, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,398 6.2"
Oct 9, 2017 Walleye 840 5.1"
Apr 20, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,465 6.4"
Oct 24, 2016 Walleye 400 7.0"

Want to know when Paw Paw Lake is likely to be stocked next? See the stocking forecast →

📅 Stocking Forecast

Stocking forecast locked Find out the best months to fish this lake and which species are likely to be stocked next.
Fishing+ — $4.99/mo

📅 Best Time to Fish Paw Paw Lake

Combined bite activity across all 55 species in this lake.

Jan
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⚓ Boat Launches

Paw Paw Lake North Ramp
📍 John Beers Rd, Watervliet, MI 49098
Paved ramp Free 20 parking spots
Dock
Details → 🗺 Directions
Paw Paw Lake Township Launch
📍 Paw Paw Lake Rd, Watervliet, MI 49098
Paved ramp Free 35 parking spots
Restrooms, dock
Details → 🗺 Directions

📏 Fishing Regulations

Regulations locked Size limits, daily bag limits, and seasonal rules for every species in this lake.
Fishing+ — $4.99/mo

🌤 Current Paw Paw Lake Conditions

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🔗 Resources

📋 DNR Stocking Database 📖 Michigan Fishing Guide (PDF) 🗺 View on Map 📍 Google Maps 🎣 Log a catch here