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Fishing Highbank Lake: what the data says
22-acre lake near Newaygo County. The lake tops out around 35 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Brook Trout fishing at Highbank Lake
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Highbank Lake
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 14 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Highbank Lake
Spring brown trout on Highbank Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 14 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Highbank Lake
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 4 to 35 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 11 to 35 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Highbank Lake
Spring coho salmon on Highbank Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Yellow Perch fishing at Highbank Lake
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 35 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Highbank Lake also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (11 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 35 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 14 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 6 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Highbank Lake?
Highbank Lake is about 35 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Highbank Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, rainbow trout, yellow perch, chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, brook trout, burbot, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Highbank Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Where is the best fishing spot on Highbank Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Highbank Lake?
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Amaung Lake · Bitely Lake · Nichols Lake · Pickerel Lake · Woodland Lake · Lilley Lake
See how Highbank Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.