Fishing Nichols Lake

Nichols Lake offers a solid warmwater-coolwater fishery anchored by a stocked walleye population with above-average growth (+0.4 index) and catch rates typical for Michigan inland lakes. The bluegill population rates as satisfactory with fish over 8 inches available, though growth is slightly below average (-0.3). Black crappie provide good fishing with relatively good numbers of large fish in the 9-14 inch range. Northern pike present the biggest challenge with well below average growth (-4.6 index) and only one legal fish captured in the 2003 survey. The lake's cool, oxygenated thermocline layer at 20-35 feet depth supports the diverse fish community and provides summer habitat for coldwater species. Water clarity averages 15 feet with moderate alkalinity around 100 ppm indicating good productivity. The lake features extensive native aquatic vegetation growing to 23 feet deep, dominated by muskgrass (44% of biomass), common waterweed (20%), and native water-milfoil (13%). Bulrushes ring nearly the entire shoreline providing excellent fish and amphibian habitat. Two invasive species, Eurasian water-milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, remain at low levels but are spreading from the developed east basin. The USFS owns 85% of the shoreline providing significant habitat protection, while the private eastern shore shows more development impacts. Walleye stocking began consistently in 1990 with survival sufficient to maintain the adult population, and alternate-year stocking since 1999 has improved survival and growth. The diverse plant community and thermocline habitat make this a productive multi-species fishery, though chemical vegetation treatments in the east basin continue to threaten native plant communities.