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Best walleye lakes in Michigan

544 Michigan waters hold walleye, 514 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Low-light predator with reflective eyes. Feeds on structure edges at dawn, dusk and night.

1. Lake Huron — Sunrise Coast — 437 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, SteelheadWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
2. Lake Erie — Western Basin — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Lake Michigan — Green Bay North and Bays de Noc — 129 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, MuskellungeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites
4. Lake Huron — Thumb Shore — 191 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, SteelheadWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
5. Lake Huron — Saginaw Bay — 83 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 15 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Lake St. Clair — 27 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
7. Lake Charlevoix — 122 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
8. Lake Huron — Les Cheneaux Islands — 118 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Lake Gogebic — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
10. Mullett Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
11. Mullett Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
12. Houghton Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
13. Portage Lake (UP) — 68 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
14. Burt Lake — 73 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. Walloon Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. Grand Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow PerchWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
17. Hamlin Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Long Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Hubbard Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
20. Black Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
21. Lake Michigamme — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
22. Elk Lake — 150 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
23. Menominee River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Rock BassWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Grand River — 14 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Manistique Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites

…plus 519 more Michigan waters holding walleye.

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When to fish walleye in Michigan

• Spring 4–15 ft — Spawning runs to gravel shoals, rocky shorelines and inflows.
• Summer 15–35 ft — Deep humps and breaklines by day; edges and flats in low light.
• Fall 12–40 ft — Fish steep structure near deep basins; big fish move shallow at night.
• Winter 20–40 ft — Deep basin flats and humps; short dawn/dusk feeding windows.

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