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Best brook trout lakes in Michigan

369 Michigan waters list brook trout (official records or labelled estimates), 361 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The native char of cold ponds and streams. Needs the coldest, cleanest water in the lake.

1. Lake Superior — Keweenaw Peninsula — 850 ft max · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
2. St. Marys River — Reach 1 of 2 — 98 ft max · real survey depth contours · Steelhead, Brook TroutWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
3. Walloon Lake — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
4. Brevoort Lake — 26 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
5. Sturgeon River (UP) — 7 ft max · Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Brook TroutWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
6. Smoky Lake — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Brule Lake — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Escanaba River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Coho SalmonWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
9. Lake Gratiot — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Avalon Lake — 74 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Witch Lake — 95 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. First Fortune Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Lake Ellen — 73 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Millecoquins Lake — 12 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Hamilton Lake — 31 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Wabascon Lake — 45 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Clear Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Bush Lake — 47 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Osterhout Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Blue Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Hillsview Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Horseshoe Lake — 44 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Boot Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Steuben Lake — 55 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Hicks Lake — 33 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 344 more Michigan waters holding brook trout.

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When to fish brook trout in Michigan

• Spring 2–15 ft — Ice-out scatters brookies along shorelines and inflow mouths, feeding on the first insect activity.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Brookies hold where the coldest water is — spring holes, deep basin edges and inflow plumes.
• Fall 2–15 ft — Fall is the show: brilliant spawning colors on gravel shoals and inflow gravel.
• Winter 3–20 ft — A classic ice-fishing target — active all winter in shallow to mid-depth water.

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