Manistique Lake
Manistique Lake is a large, shallow lake in the eastern Upper Peninsula, near Curtis in Mackinac County. It is known for walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Main managed gamefish; a protected slot limit has been recommended by the DNR
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Crappie
Black crappie first found in 2013 and increasing
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Public boat access sites (four on the lake, two in Mackinac County and two in Luce County)RampListed in the 2024 DNR fishery status report; check the DNR site for exact ramp locations.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Manistique Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Mick's Bait ShopNearbyCurtis, MIDirections ↗
Local tips
- The lake averages about 10 feet deep and is very shallow, so watch for shoals in a wind.
- Walleye must be 15 inches or longer and the limit is 5, per the DNR report. Confirm in the current digest.
- Zebra mussels and round goby are present, so clean and drain your boat.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
Torch Lake (Antrim County) Lake Charlevoix Burt Lake Mullett Lake Lake Gogebic Black Lake Crystal Lake Portage Lake (Houghton County) All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.