← Branch County

Coldwater Lake

πŸ“ Branch County, Michigan

Southern Michigan's finest walleye lake. Clear water, good structure, and consistent fishing year-round.

1,561
Acres
80 ft
Max depth
43
Fish species
0
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today C 51/100 Average conditions Last stocked Nov 6, 2025 Walleye, 360 days ago Keeper size (estimated) Walleye Stocked fish likely at keeper size by now Access 0 boat launches Public access

πŸ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Coldwater 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 largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

C
51/100
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Conditions score

Average conditions, fish are catchable but may be selective.

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Nov 6, 2025
Last: Nov 6, 2025
πŸŒ— Moon Phase
Last Quarter
Feeding bonus
πŸƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
🐟 Species
14 game/panfish species: outstanding variety
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
1,561 acres: large lake
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Coldwater Lake Today

Fall fish at Coldwater 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 Coldwater 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 largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill.

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 Coldwater Lake

Largemouth Bass Excellent
Micropterus salmoides
Walleye Excellent
Sander vitreus
Bluegill Good
Lepomis macrochirus
Muskellunge Good
Esox masquinongy
White Crappie Good
Pomoxis annularis
Yellow Perch Good
Perca flavescens
Northern Pike Fair
Esox lucius
Tiger Muskie Fair
Esox masquinongy x lucius
Gizzard Shad Good
Dorosoma cepedianum
Golden Shiner Good
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Redear Sunfish Good
Lepomis microlophus
Green Sunfish Good
Lepomis cyanellus
Rock Bass Good
Ambloplites rupestris
Yellow Bullhead Fair
Ameiurus natalis
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
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
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πŸ“… Best Time to Fish Coldwater Lake

Combined bite activity across all 43 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
Largemouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Walleye15"5
BluegillNone25 sunfish combined
Muskellunge42"1 per license year (registration required)
White CrappieNone25 sunfish combined
Yellow PerchNone25
Northern Pike24"2
Tiger Muskie42"1 per license year (registration required)
Redear SunfishNone25 sunfish combined
Green SunfishNone25 sunfish combined
Rock BassNone25 sunfish combined
πŸ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
5 Stocking events
69,999 Fish stocked
1 Species
361d Since last stock
1583d Longest gap
Walleye 69,999
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Jun '18
Oct '22
Nov '23
Nov '24
Nov '25

πŸ“‹ Coldwater Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Nov 6, 2025 Walleye 2,000 7.0"
Nov 6, 2024 Walleye 2,500 7.0"
Nov 10, 2023 Walleye 2,500 6.5"
Oct 21, 2022 Walleye 1,500 7.0"
Jun 21, 2018 Walleye 61,499 2.2"
Jun 6, 2013 Walleye 12,375 1.4"
May 16, 2012 Walleye 77,638 1.3"
Jun 21, 2011 Walleye 18,000 2.0"
Jun 15, 2011 Walleye 15,618 1.8"
Jun 7, 2011 Walleye 20,855 1.3"
Jun 2, 2011 Walleye 27,124 1.3"
Jun 1, 2011 Walleye 32,391 1.2"
Oct 15, 2008 Walleye 200 7.0"
Jun 2, 2006 Walleye 10,270 1.6"
Jun 1, 2006 Walleye 56,381 1.6"
May 31, 2006 Walleye 24,890 1.6"
May 31, 2006 Walleye 37,124 1.6"
Jun 1, 2004 Walleye 1,031 1.2"
May 29, 2004 Walleye 3,438 1.2"
May 27, 2004 Walleye 5,500 1.2"
Jun 11, 2002 Walleye 10,241 1.5"
Jun 5, 2002 Walleye 178,935 0.9"
Jun 1, 2000 Walleye 185,647 1.8"
Jun 8, 1999 Walleye 10,934 1.9"
May 29, 1998 Walleye 38,864 1.7"
Showing 25 of 64 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 64 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: May.
Peak Stocking Months
Jun May Sep
Most Stocked Species
Walleye Muskellunge Northern Pike

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

βš“ Coldwater Lake Boat Launches

No launch data on record for this lake. Browse all Michigan boat launches.

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Coldwater Lake

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🌀 Current Coldwater Lake Weather Conditions

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