← Mackinac County

Bay City Lake

πŸ“ Mackinac County, Michigan

Bay City Lake is a fishing water in Mackinac County, Michigan (Northern Lake Huron management unit).

39
Fish species
1
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today D 44/100 Below-average Last stocked Jul 14, 1998 Smallmouth Bass, 28.3 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 Bay City 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, largemouth bass and northern pike), 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
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Conditions score

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

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Jul 14, 1998
Last: Jul 14, 1998
πŸŒ— Moon Phase
Last Quarter
Feeding bonus
πŸƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
🐟 Species
8 game/panfish species: outstanding variety
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Bay City Lake Today

Fall fish at Bay City 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 Bay City 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, largemouth bass and northern pike.

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.

🐟 Fish Species in Bay City Lake

Bluegill Good
Lepomis macrochirus
Largemouth Bass Good
Micropterus salmoides
Northern Pike Good
Esox lucius
Rainbow Trout Good
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Smallmouth Bass Good
Micropterus dolomieu
Yellow Perch Good
Perca flavescens
Golden Shiner Good
Notemigonus crysoleucas
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
Kiyi Good
Coregonus kiyi
Lake Chub Good
Couesius plumbeus
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
Pugnose Shiner Good
Notropis anogenus
Pygmy Whitefish Good
Prosopium coulteri
Ruffe Good
Gymnocephalus cernua
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shortjaw Cisco Good
Coregonus zenithicus
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 Bay City Lake

Combined bite activity across all 39 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
Largemouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Northern Pike24"2
Rainbow Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Smallmouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Yellow PerchNone25
Rock BassNone25 sunfish combined

πŸ“‹ Bay City Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Jul 14, 1998 Smallmouth Bass 200 1.7"
Sep 3, 1996 Largemouth Bass 404 2.3"
Jul 18, 1994 Largemouth Bass 994 1.7"
Aug 3, 1993 Largemouth Bass 1,107 2.1"
Jun 13, 1990 Fathead Minnow 47,100 1.0"
Apr 23, 1989 Smallmouth Bass 11 17.0"
Sep 9, 1983 Largemouth Bass 1,022 1.5"
Aug 15, 1983 Bluegill 115 β€”
May 5, 1983 Northern Pike 5,000 0.6"
Aug 16, 1982 Largemouth Bass 732 1.9"
Jun 2, 1982 Rainbow Trout 100 6.2"
May 12, 1982 Rainbow Trout 1,100 7.1"
May 11, 1982 Northern Pike 5,000 0.6"

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

πŸ“… Stocking Forecast

Based on 13 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: May.
Peak Stocking Months
May Aug Sep
Most Stocked Species
Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Smallmouth Bass

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

βš“ Bay City Lake Boat Launches (1)

One public access site is listed for Bay City 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 Mackinac County boat launches.

Bay City Lake Carry-in only No fee 10 parking
Hours
Open at all times
Phone
906-643-8620
Record updated
April 2026
Full details πŸ—Ί Directions

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Bay City Lake

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🌀 Current Bay City Lake Weather Conditions

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