Fishing Nawakwa Lake

Nawakwa Lake stands out as one of the Eastern Upper Peninsula's premier walleye fisheries, with exceptional natural reproduction that eliminated the need for stocking by 1990. The 2000 survey found 96% of walleyes were legal size at 15+ inches, averaging 18.6 inches with fish up to 23 inches. While walleye growth runs 2.3 inches below state average, their abundance and low 26% mortality rate create excellent fishing opportunities. Northern pike provide a solid secondary fishery, with good numbers of larger fish up to 36 inches and an average size of 22.5 inches, though only 23% reach the 24-inch legal size. The lake's irregular shoreline features 9 points and 9 bays, with 70% of the 369-acre lake under 15 feet deep and numerous sand bars requiring careful navigation. Bottom composition varies from mud in shallow north bay to sand, gravel, rocks, and pulpy peat in deeper areas. Brown bullheads dominate the biomass at 66% but average a respectable 11.3 inches and aren't stunted. Rock bass provide consistent panfishing with 94% over 6 inches. Yellow perch numbers have crashed due to predation pressure, with most fish under 7 inches. The extensive shoreline bulrush colonies hold clouds of small perch that serve as forage. Water is stained brown with good alkalinity at 60ppm, and the lake stratifies strongly in summer with bottom oxygen deficits. A bald eagle nests on the 18-acre island, and development is minimal with just a sportsman's club and few cabins. The concrete boat ramp requires caution navigating shallow narrows into the main lake.