Otsego County · Michigan

Big Bradford Lake

Soundings in feet · 256 acres · deepest 102 ft

Where it is

11 miles south of Gaylord

Otsego County, Michigan · 44.8647° N, 84.7092° W

Directions to Big Bradford Lake Apple Maps

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

Today on the lake

Updated 10 Oct 2026, 12:17 am EDT. Get alerts for Big Bradford Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 44°F, wind SE 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: sunny, 75°F, wind S 10 to 15 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 8 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESBig Bradford Lake: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 8 Sep 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

11 contours, 10 to 102 ft

0102030405060708090100102feet

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

Size and depth

256 acres · deepest 102 ft (measured) · shoreline about 4.0 mi · clarity about 17 ft

Big Bradford Lake is the 4th largest of the 92 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Otsego County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 2nd deepest of the 41 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 72 of the other 80 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 4.0 miles along the state outline. About 38% of its area is deeper than 60 ft.

Ranks against Otsego 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 Big Bradford Lake.

Big Bradford Lake · Otsego Lake State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Otsego County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Big Bradford Lake 13 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 9,317 walleye on 10 June 2025. Species stocked: rainbow trout, walleye.

13 stockings, 1979 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 10 Jun 2025: 9,317 walleye.

10 Jun 2025STOCKED9,317 walleye

8 Jun 2023STOCKED14,968 walleye

17 Jun 2021STOCKED8,000 walleye

11 Jun 2018STOCKED20,000 walleye

8 Jun 2016STOCKED10,230 walleye

16 Jun 2014STOCKED9,033 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 1925: blackchin shiner, bluntnose minnow, brook stickleback, central mudminnow, common shiner, golden shiner, hornyhead chub, iowa darter, johnny darter, least darter, rock bass, white sucker. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 17 ft (Secchi depth 5.0 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 16.6 ft of 102 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Big Bradford LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Big Bradford Lake 13 times since 1979, most recently 9,317 walleye on 10 June 2025. None 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. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Otsego CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 7 emails.

Big Bradford Lake has had no stockings or algae records in 2026, so its own alerts would have sent nothing this year. The county alert is on by default.

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.

The area around Big Bradford Lake

113 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 16 miles of Big Bradford Lake, 11 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Lake Marjory79 ft deep · 0.7 mi · Otsego County

Horseshoe Lake24 ft deep · 0.9 mi · Crawford County

Blue Gill Lake16 ft deep · 1.2 mi · Crawford County

Beaver Lake16 ft deep · 1.4 mi · Crawford County

Heart Lake123 ft deep · 2.0 mi · Otsego County

Bridge Lake87 ft deep · 4.1 mi · Otsego County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Big Bradford Lake?

Big Bradford Lake is 102 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 256 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Big Bradford Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Big Bradford Lake.

Is Big Bradford Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 13 times since 1979, most recently 9,317 walleye on 10 June 2025.

How much of Big Bradford Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 76% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.