Mecosta County · Michigan

Chippewa Lake

Soundings in feet · 791 acres · deepest 40 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:16 am EDT. Get alerts for Chippewa Lake

WEATHEROvernight: clear, 38°F, wind SW 3 mph. Friday: sunny, 67°F, wind W 6 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.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 5 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESChippewa 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

8 contours, 5 to 40 ft

0510152025303540feet

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

Size and depth

791 acres · deepest 40 ft (measured) · shoreline about 8.3 mi · clarity about 12 ft

Chippewa Lake is the 2nd largest of the 69 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Mecosta County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 8th deepest of the 26 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 32 of the other 54 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 8.3 miles along the state outline. About 13% of its area is deeper than 20 ft.

Ranks against Mecosta 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 Chippewa Lake.

Chippewa Lake · Clare Field Office · Open

2 ramp lanes · 40 trailer spaces · 3 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Mecosta County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Chippewa Lake 29 times since 1980. The most recent stocking was 43,566 walleye on 18 June 2025. Species stocked: tiger muskellunge, walleye.

29 stockings, 1980 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 18 Jun 2025: 43,566 walleye.

18 Jun 2025STOCKED43,566 walleye

5 Jul 2023STOCKED41,861 walleye

29 Jun 2022STOCKED43,687 walleye

16 Jun 2021STOCKED59,690 walleye

25 Jun 2019STOCKED54,998 walleye

21 Jun 2018STOCKED101,630 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 1952: black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, golden shiner, grass pickerel, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, longnose gar, northern logperch, northern longear sunfish, northern pike, pugnose shiner, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 12 ft (Secchi depth 3.5 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 11.6 ft of 40 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Chippewa LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Chippewa Lake 29 times since 1980, most recently 43,566 walleye on 18 June 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS lists 1 bloom report and 2 water samples here. None in 2026.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 29 Sep.Any lake in Mecosta CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 0 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Chippewa Lake: 29 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

Long Lake18 ft deep · 1.9 mi · Mecosta County

Haymarsh Lakes (north)25 ft deep · 2.3 mi · Mecosta County

Hodges Lake66 ft deep · 3.4 mi · Mecosta County

Martiny Lake40 ft deep · 3.9 mi · Mecosta County

Jehnsen Lake18 ft deep · 4.0 mi · Mecosta County

Cranberry Lake26 ft deep · 4.2 mi · Mecosta County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Chippewa Lake?

Chippewa Lake is 40 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 791 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Chippewa Lake?

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

Is Chippewa Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 29 times since 1980, most recently 43,566 walleye on 18 June 2025.

How much of Chippewa Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 61% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.