← Iosco County

Van Etten Lake

πŸ“ Iosco County, Michigan

Van Etten Lake is a fishing water in Iosco County, Michigan (Northern Lake Huron management unit).

40
Fish species
1
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today D 44/100 Below-average Last stocked Jun 23, 2022 Walleye, 4.4 years ago Keeper size (estimated) Walleye Stocked fish likely at keeper size by now Access 1 boat launch Public access

πŸ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Van Etten 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 black crappie, bluegill and channel catfish), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

D
44/100
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Conditions score

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

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Jun 23, 2022
Last: Jun 23, 2022
🌘 Moon Phase
Waning Crescent
Feeding bonus
πŸƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
🐟 Species
13 game/panfish species: outstanding variety
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Van Etten Lake Today

Fall fish at Van Etten 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 Van Etten 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 black crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.

Very Low estimated pressure today
Popular stocking lake

Very little activity expected. A great time to have the lake to yourself.

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

🐟 Fish Species in Van Etten Lake

Black Crappie Good
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bluegill Good
Lepomis macrochirus
Channel Catfish Good
Ictalurus punctatus
Chinook Salmon Good
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Largemouth Bass Good
Micropterus salmoides
Muskellunge Good
Esox masquinongy
Northern Pike Good
Esox lucius
Smallmouth Bass Good
Micropterus dolomieu
Walleye Good
Sander vitreus
Yellow Perch Good
Perca flavescens
Golden Shiner Good
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Brown Bullhead Good
Ameiurus nebulosus
Rock Bass Good
Ambloplites rupestris
Bluntnose Minnow Good
Pimephales notatus
Brook Silverside Good
Labidesthes sicculus
Brook Stickleback Good
Culaea inconstans
Central Mudminnow Good
Umbra limi
Common Shiner Good
Luxilus cornutus
Emerald Shiner Good
Notropis atherinoides
Fathead Minnow Good
Pimephales promelas
Finescale Dace Good
Phoxinus neogaeus
Golden Redhorse Good
Moxostoma erythrurum
Goldfish Good
Carassius auratus
Lake Chub Good
Couesius plumbeus
Least Darter Good
Etheostoma microperca
Longnose Sucker Good
Catostomus catostomus
Mimic Shiner Good
Notropis volucellus
Mottled Sculpin Good
Cottus bairdii
Ninespine Stickleback Good
Pungitius pungitius
Northern Pearl Dace Good
Margariscus nachtriebi
Northern Redbelly Dace Good
Phoxinus eos
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Slimy Sculpin Good
Cottus cognatus
Spotfin Shiner Good
Cyprinella spiloptera
Spottail Shiner Good
Notropis hudsonius
Threespine Stickleback Good
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Trout-Perch Good
Percopsis omiscomaycus
Western Banded Killifish Good
Fundulus diaphanus
White Sucker Good
Catostomus commersonii
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πŸ“… Best Time to Fish Van Etten Lake

Combined bite activity across all 40 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
Black CrappieNone25 sunfish combined
BluegillNone25 sunfish combined
Channel Catfish12"10
Largemouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Muskellunge42"1 per license year (registration required)
Northern Pike24"2
Smallmouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Walleye15"5
Yellow PerchNone25
Rock BassNone25 sunfish combined
πŸ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
2 Stocking events
192,952 Fish stocked
1 Species
1594d Since last stock
1477d Longest gap
Walleye 192,952
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Jun '18
Jun '22

πŸ“‹ Van Etten Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Jun 23, 2022 Walleye 83,507 1.8"
Jun 7, 2018 Walleye 109,445 1.9"
Jun 30, 2016 Walleye 73,347 2.0"
Jun 23, 2014 Walleye 82,769 2.2"
Jun 14, 2012 Walleye 82,507 1.9"
Jun 22, 2010 Walleye 80,326 2.0"
Jun 25, 2009 Walleye 81,281 1.6"
Jul 10, 2008 Walleye 83,753 2.2"
Jun 13, 2006 Walleye 68,157 1.8"
Jun 16, 2005 Walleye 81,621 1.7"
Jun 19, 2003 Walleye 75,187 1.7"
Jun 1, 2000 Walleye 84,942 1.6"
May 30, 1999 Chinook Salmon 295,000 3.3"
Jun 5, 1998 Walleye 61,710 2.0"
Jun 10, 1995 Walleye 100,721 1.1"
Jun 7, 1991 Walleye 41,078 1.7"
Sep 21, 1989 Muskellunge 10,000 9.2"
Jun 8, 1989 Walleye 32,238 1.3"
Sep 23, 1988 Muskellunge 5,000 9.3"
Oct 15, 1987 Muskellunge 2,800 11.1"
Sep 19, 1986 Muskellunge 5,000 6.5"
Oct 2, 1985 Muskellunge 3,500 10.2"
Jun 12, 1985 Walleye 46,152 1.0"
Aug 28, 1984 Muskellunge 1,900 7.0"
Jul 9, 1980 Walleye 3,570 β€”
Showing 25 of 28 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 28 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Jun.
Peak Stocking Months
Jun Jul Sep
Most Stocked Species
Walleye Muskellunge Chinook Salmon

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

βš“ Van Etten Lake Boat Launches (1)

One public access site is listed for Van Etten 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 Iosco County boat launches.

Van Etten Lake State Forest Campground Paved ramp Fee required 1 trailer lane 8 parking
Amenities
Vault toilet, Boating pier, AIS signage, Accessible parking, Accessible pier
Hours
08:00-22:00
Phone
989-362-5041
Record updated
April 2026
Full details πŸ—Ί Directions

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Van Etten Lake

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🌀 Current Van Etten Lake Weather Conditions

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