Fishing Silver Lake

Silver Lake delivers exceptional walleye fishing with fish growing well above state average (+2.9 growth index) and 94% of walleye caught exceeding the 15-inch minimum. The 690-acre lake supports a walleye population sustained through biennial stocking of spring fingerlings at 50 fish per acre, with some natural reproduction occurring. Black crappie provide the best panfish opportunity, growing substantially faster than average (+1.6 growth index) with 98% reaching legal size and nine year classes indicating consistent reproduction. The lake is essentially a fishbowl with sand bottom and very limited aquatic vegetation, which severely limits bass and other panfish populations - only one bluegill was caught in the entire 2019 survey. Dissolved oxygen drops dramatically below 15 feet, from 7.04 ppm at 15 feet to just 2.6 ppm at 18 feet, concentrating fish in shallow water during summer. White suckers and common carp dominate the biomass at nearly 70%, creating excellent bowfishing opportunities. The lake has a troubled history including multiple fish kills and aggressive chemical treatments that removed virtually all aquatic vegetation, leading to habitat-dependent species like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and bluegill becoming nearly extirpated. Historical surveys showed much more diverse panfish populations before extensive weed treatments began in 1988. Northern pike populations crashed from historically abundant to nearly absent, with only 2 caught in the comprehensive 2019 survey. Spottail shiners and sand shiners provide primary forage for walleye in this simplified ecosystem. The lake's proximity to Lake Michigan and active sand dunes create unique challenges, with the dunes continuously encroaching and reducing lake size over time.