Fishing Shoepac Lake

Shoepac Lake offers a classic northern Michigan coolwater fishery in a 52-acre sinkhole lake with limestone bedrock and a maximum depth of 94 feet. The lake maintains exceptional water quality with dissolved oxygen present throughout the entire 94-foot water column even in summer stratification, making it uncommon for the region. Northern pike are the top predator here, with 22% of the population reaching legal size (24+ inches) though growth runs about an inch slower than state average. Pike weren't collected in 1987 surveys and likely arrived through illegal stocking since there are no inlets or outlets. Black crappie provide the best panfishing opportunity with good numbers of fish over 10 inches available, though they grow more than an inch below state average. The substrate transitions from sand in shallow areas to organic pulpy peat in the depths, with steep dropoffs and 50% of the lake deeper than 40 feet. A 12-acre marsh area along the northeast shore stays under three feet deep and likely holds spawning fish. Largemouth bass represent multiple age classes with numerous fish over 14 inches, but grow 1.5 inches slower than average. Bullheads dominate the fish community at 86% of the survey catch, indicating the lake's low productivity. The dark, stained water and nutrient-limited conditions result in slow growth across all species but allow fish to reach quality sizes with age. This sinkhole lake sits in gently rolling jack pine hills with mostly state-owned shoreline and a small boat launch at the State Forest Campground that may limit larger boats due to its sand and gravel construction.