Fishing Burt Lake

Burt Lake is Michigan's fourth-largest inland lake at 17,395 acres and delivers exceptional walleye fishing backed by entirely natural reproduction. The walleye population is remarkably stable with consistent year-class production, though fish run about 1.1 inches smaller than state average. Yellow perch dominate the panfish action with 47% of the catch measuring 7+ inches and fish up to 14 inches present, representing age groups II through XII. Smallmouth bass provide quality fishing with above-average growth (+1.6 growth index) and 57% of fish reaching the 14-inch legal size. Northern pike up to 33 inches were captured, though they grow 1.4 inches below state average. The lake stratifies below 48 feet where dissolved oxygen drops to levels that won't support fish, concentrating species in the upper water column. Invasive round gobies now comprise 42.9% of walleye diet in fall and winter, showing how the system has adapted to this new forage base. The north and east shores provide critical walleye spawning habitat that supports not only Burt Lake's fishery but contributes 10% of its spawning walleye to other Inland Waterway lakes. Lake sturgeon fishing was closed in 1999, but the population was estimated at 1,535 fish in 2011, mostly from ongoing restoration stocking efforts. Muskellunge fishing is gaining popularity with targeted winter effort, and 40 Master Angler smallmouth bass awards since 2000 confirm the bass fishing quality. The lake's coarse-textured surficial geology provides high groundwater input, supporting excellent tributary trout streams. With 32 miles of shoreline and multiple public access points including Burt Lake State Park, this large lake offers diverse fishing opportunities from shallow bays to deep-water structure.