Payne Lake, Barry County, MI: Depth Map, Fishing & Water Quality

Where it is

6 miles southwest of Middleville

Barry County, Michigan · 42.6379° N, 85.5191° W

Directions to Payne Lake Apple Maps

Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Michigan DNR public access site.

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:16 pm EDT. Get alerts for Payne Lake

WEATHERTonight: partly cloudy, 47°F, wind NE 5 to 8 mph. Thursday: rain showers, 63°F, wind E 8 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAEToo small for satellite monitoring (under 1 km²). No bloom reports on record with Michigan DHHS.

LAUNCHESPayne Lake: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

7 contours, 5 to 43 ft

05101520304043feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

113 acres · deepest 43 ft (measured) · shoreline about 2.6 mi · clarity about 11 ft

Payne Lake is the 27th largest of the 125 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Barry County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 13th deepest of the 44 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 59 of the other 94 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 2.6 miles along the state outline. About 41% of its area is deeper than 20 ft.

Ranks against Barry County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Payne Lake.

Payne Lake · Yankee Springs State Recreation Area · Open

1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Barry County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Payne Lake 1 times since 2001. The most recent stocking was 2,000 walleye on 28 September 2001. Species stocked: walleye.

28 Sep 2001STOCKED2,000 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 11 ft (Secchi depth 3.2 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 10.6 ft of 43 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

The area around Payne Lake

76 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 9 miles of Payne Lake, 5 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Chief Noonday Lake5 ft deep · 0.6 mi · Barry County

Williams Lake20 ft deep · 1.1 mi · Barry County

Long Lake3 ft deep · 1.2 mi · Barry County

Barlow Lake60 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Barry County

Hall Lake20 ft deep · 2.4 mi · Barry County

Gun Lake68 ft deep · 3.8 mi · County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Payne Lake?

Payne Lake is 43 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 113 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Payne Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Payne Lake.

Is Payne Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 1 times since 2001, most recently 2,000 walleye on 28 September 2001.

How much of Payne Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 60% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.