3 miles southwest of Stanton
Montcalm County, Michigan · 43.2743° N, 85.1266° W
Directions to Derby LakeApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Michigan DNR public access site.
Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:13 pm EDT. Get alerts for Derby Lake
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).
Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
114 acres · deepest 87 ft (measured) · shoreline about 1.9 mi · clarity about 12 ft
Derby Lake is the 14th largest of the 113 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Montcalm County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the deepest of the 24 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 82 of the other 97 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 1.9 miles along the state outline. About 45% of its area is deeper than 30 ft.
Ranks against Montcalm County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure
1 public access site on Derby Lake.
Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR has stocked Derby Lake 17 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 5,900 rainbow trout on 10 March 1995. Species stocked: rainbow trout.
Latest: 10 Mar 1995: 5,900 rainbow trout.
Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure
Historically recorded species, from records through 1950: blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, creek chub, iowa darter, largemouth bass, least darter, northern longear sunfish, rock bass, sand shiner, smallmouth bass, spotfin shiner. Historic records, not a current survey.
Michigan Fish Atlas.
Average water clarity is about 12 ft (Secchi depth 3.7 m, satellite readings 2018–23).
Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
24 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Derby Lake, 4 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.
Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.
Derby Lake is 87 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 114 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Derby Lake.
Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 17 times since 1979, most recently 5,900 rainbow trout on 10 March 1995.
About 63% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.