Manistee County · Michigan

Portage Lake

Soundings in feet · 2,116 acres · deepest 60 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:12 am EDT. Get alerts for Portage Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 42°F, wind S 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 65°F, wind NW 0 to 5 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.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 5% of the lake on 3 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESPortage Lake and Onekama Village Park: 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

9 contours, 6 to 60 ft

061218202430405060feet

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

Size and depth

2,116 acres · deepest 60 ft (measured) · shoreline about 11.5 mi · clarity about 13 ft

Portage Lake is the largest of the 34 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Manistee County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the deepest of the 12 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 21 of the other 26 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 11.5 miles along the state outline. About 33% of its area is deeper than 24 ft.

Ranks against Manistee 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

2 public access sites on Portage Lake.

Portage Lake · Orchard Beach State Park · Open

2 ramp lanes · 25 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Manistee County

Onekama Village Park · Village of Onekama · Open

2 ramp lanes

Local boating rules, Manistee County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Portage Lake 149 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 65,283 walleye on 2 June 2026. Species stocked: brown trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, walleye.

149 stockings, 1979 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 2 Jun 2026: 65,283 walleye.

2 Jun 2026STOCKED65,283 walleye

25 Jun 2025STOCKED54,708 walleye

6 Jun 2023STOCKED53,150 walleye

3 Jun 2021STOCKED59,455 walleye

18 Jun 2019STOCKED17,605 walleye

14 Jun 2019STOCKED34,324 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

Historically recorded species, from records through 1976: lake herring. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 13 ft (Secchi depth 4.1 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 13.3 ft of 60 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Portage LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Portage Lake 149 times since 1979, most recently 65,283 walleye on 2 June 2026. 1 stocking so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 27 Sep.Any lake in Manistee CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 2 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 2 emails about Portage Lake: 2 Jun and 27 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Chief Lake9 ft deep · 4.8 mi · Manistee County

James Lake47 ft deep · 5.1 mi · Manistee County

Bear Lake6 ft deep · 6.3 mi · Manistee County

Lake Eleanor38 ft deep · 11.2 mi · Manistee County

Canfield Lake20 ft deep · 11.4 mi · Manistee County

Dickson Lake30 ft deep · 11.7 mi · Manistee County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Portage Lake?

Portage Lake is 60 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 2,116 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Portage Lake?

Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Portage Lake; Onekama Village Park.

Is Portage Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 149 times since 1979, most recently 65,283 walleye on 2 June 2026.