Schoolcraft County · Michigan

Thunder Lake

Soundings in feet · 331 acres · deepest 20 ft

Where it is

14 miles northwest of Manistique

Schoolcraft County, Michigan · 46.0980° N, 86.4748° W

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The Michigan DNR lists no public access site on Thunder Lake; much of the shore may be private.

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 5:30 pm EDT. Get alerts for Thunder Lake

WEATHERThis Afternoon: slight chance rain showers, 56°F, wind N 10 mph. Tonight: slight chance rain showers then mostly cloudy, 33°F, wind N 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.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 9 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

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

4 contours, 5 to 20 ft

05101520feet

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

Size and depth

331 acres · deepest 20 ft (measured) · shoreline about 5.0 mi · clarity about 9 ft

Thunder Lake is the 9th largest of the 168 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Schoolcraft County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 49th deepest of the 83 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 82 of the other 124 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 5.0 miles along the state outline. About 36% of its area is deeper than 10 ft.

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

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Thunder Lake 15 times since 1984. The most recent stocking was 3,570 walleye on 20 June 2024. Species stocked: walleye.

15 stockings, 1984 to 2024, log scale

Latest: 20 Jun 2024: 3,570 walleye.

20 Jun 2024STOCKED3,570 walleye

18 Jun 2024STOCKED11,118 walleye

26 Jun 2023STOCKED14,393 walleye

28 Jun 2022STOCKED5,467 walleye

27 Jun 2022STOCKED9,301 walleye

29 Jun 1995STOCKED12,000 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 9 ft (Secchi depth 2.8 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 9.1 ft of 20 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Thunder LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Thunder Lake 15 times since 1984, most recently 3,570 walleye on 20 June 2024. 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. In 2026 that happened on 7 Jun.Any lake in Schoolcraft CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 8 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Thunder Lake: 7 Jun.

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 Thunder Lake

163 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 14 miles of Thunder Lake, 7 with a page here (darker blue). Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Ganamush Lake10 ft deep · 1.6 mi · Delta County

Carr Lake20 ft deep · 2.0 mi · Delta County

Bear Lake30 ft deep · 2.0 mi · Delta County

Leg Lake15 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Schoolcraft County

Eagle Lake15 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Schoolcraft County

Murphy Lake35 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Schoolcraft County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Thunder Lake?

Thunder Lake is 20 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 331 acres.

Is Thunder Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 15 times since 1984, most recently 3,570 walleye on 20 June 2024.

How much of Thunder Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 36% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.