Fishing
fVan Buren County, Michigan Fishing Lakes

Van Buren County, Michigan is home to a total of 111 lakes, arranged alphabetically in the list below. If you are considering fishing in Van Buren County, Michigan, get more information by clicking on any lake in the list below. Help others by telling us what you know about these county lakes.

Ackley Lake, Antwerp/Paw Paw Twp
  • 65 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand
  • No public access site. There is a navigable tube connected to Maple Lake that has a public access site. See Maple Lake.
  • depths up to 15 feet
Bankson Lake, Porter Twp
  • 202 acres
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is off 80th Ave. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic and sand
  • Depths up to 42 feet
  • Best fishing - muskellunge and northern pike
Cedar Lake, Porter Twp
  • 269 acres
  • Public access site with parking and toilets off M-40. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Limited water depth may make launching and retrieving larger boats difficult.
  • lake bottom is marl, pulpy peat and sand
  • depths up to 84 feet
  • best fishing - bluegill, largemouth bass and perch

Lake of the Woods, Decatur/Hamilton Twp

  • 265 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic & sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 84th Ave. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Launching and retrieving larger boats may be difficult.
  • Depths up to 34 feet
  • Best fishing: bluegill and largemouth bass.

Brandywine Lake, Pine Grove Twp

  • 70 acres
  • Public access site with toilets and parking off Brandywine Rd. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand
  • depths up to 25 feet

Lime Lake, Almena Twp

  • 27 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, and muck & marl.
  • No public access
  • Depths up to 28 feet
Christie Lake, Lawrence Twp
  • 211 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat and sand
  • No public access site
  • depths up to 45 feet
  • Best fishing - largemouth bass

Maple Lake, Antwerp Twp

  • 172 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand
  • Public access is off M-40. Ramp is concrete.
  • Depths up to 15 feet

Clear Lake, Pine Grove Twp

  • 62 acres
  • Lake bottom is gravel, marl, organic and sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking on 2nd Ave. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • depths up to 55 feet

North Lake, Almena Twp

  • 132.7 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, marl, pulpy peat and sand.
  • No public access site.
  • Depths up to 60 feet.

Big Crooked Lake, Silver Creek Twp

  • 110 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand
  • No public access
  • Depths up to 48 feet

Upper Reynolds Lake, Lawrence Twp (connected to Lower Reynolds)

  • 87.5 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat and sand.
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is off 46th St. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 33 feet
  • Best fishing - bluegill

Little Crooked Lake, Silver Creek/Keeler Twp

  • 103 acres
  • No public access
  • Depths up to 62 feet

Lower Reynolds Lake, Lawrence Twp (connected to Upper Reynolds)

  • 35.5 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat and sand
  • For Public access site see Upper Reynolds Lake.
  • Depths up to 30 feet

Eagle Lake, Paw Paw Twp

  • 185 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat and sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 70th Ave/CR358. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 60 feet
  • Best fishing - largemouth bass

Rush Lake, Bangor/Hartford Twp

  • 118 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic, and sand
  • Public access site, with toilets and parking, is off Rush Lake Rd. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 58 feet
  • Best fishing: bluegill & largemouth bass

Eagle Lake, Bloomindale Twp

  • 225 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic and sand
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is off Mary Rd. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Limited water depth may make launching and retrieving larger boats difficult.
  • depths up to 59 feet

School Section Lake, Waverly Twp


  • 68 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand.
  • Public access site is off CR 665, with toilets and parking. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 50 feet

Fish Lake, Almena Twp

  • 65 acres
  • Lake bottom is gravel, organic and sand
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is off County Road 653
  • depths up to 27 feet

North & South Scott Lake, Arlington/Columbia/Waverly Twp

  • 203 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic and sand.
  • Public access site is off 24th Ave. and has toilets and parking. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 55 feet.

Gravel Lake, Porter Twp

  • 296 acres
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is on Gravel Lake Dr. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Launching and retrieving larger boats may be difficult.
  • Lake bottom is gravel, marl, pulpy peat and sand
  • depths up to 51 feet
  • best fishing - bass, bluegill, northern pike and perch

Saddle Lake, Columbia Twp

  • 298 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, marl, pulpy peat and sand
  • Public access site is off CR 384 with toilets and parking. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Launching and retrieving larger boats may be difficult.
  • Depths up to 32 feet
  • Best fishing: northern pike and perch

Great Bear Lake, Bloomingdale/Columbia Twp

  • 150 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic and sand
  • No public access
  • Depths up to 58 feet
  • Best fishing - bluegill

Three Legged Lake, Bloomingdale Twp

  • 24 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic and sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 6th Ave. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 28 feet

Hall Lake, Lawrence Twp

  • 23 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, muck and pulpy peat
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is off Red Arrow Hwy. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • depths up to 37 feet

Shafer Lake, Lawrence Twp

  • 81 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, marl, muck, pulpy peat and sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off CR681. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 72 feet
  • Best fishing: perch

Huzzy Lake, Porter Twp

  • 78 acres
  • Public access site with parking and toilets is County Road 652.
  • Ramp is gravel-surfaced.

Three Mile Lake, Paw Paw Twp

  • 176 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat, and sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 41st St. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 35 feet

Upper Jeptha Lake, Columbia Twp

  • 48 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl and organic.
  • Public access site is off County Road 380, with parking & toilets. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • depths up to 42 feet.
  • Best fishing - bluegill and largemouth bass

Lake 14, Columbia Twp

  • 62 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl, organic & sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 12th Ave. (CR384) Ramp is gravel-surfaced. Launching and retrieving larger boats may be difficult.
  • Depths up to 20 feet

Lower Jeptha Lake, Columbia Twp

  • 54 acres
  • Lake bottom is marl and organic.
  • Public access site (not DNR) is on 4850th St.
  • Depths up to 46 feet.
  • Best fishing - bluegill and largemouth bass

Lake 11, Columbia Twp

  • 50 acres
  • Lake bottom is organic & sand
  • Public access site with toilets and parking is off 48 1/2th St. Ramp is gravel-surfaced.
  • Depths up to 31 feet
  • Kal-Haven Trail runs south of the lake

Lake Cora, Paw Paw Twp

  • 197 acres
  • Lake bottom is fibrous peat, pulpy peat and sand.
  • Public Access site off West St., with parking and toilets. Ramp is hard-surfaced. Limited water depth may make launching and retrieving larger boats difficult.
  • Depths up to 58 feet
  • Best fishing - largemouth bass


 
 

Lakes & Rivers

Check out our Lakes and Rivers!

paw paw river sm
The Paw Paw River is located in the U.S. state of Michigan in the southwest portion of the lower peninsula. It is formed by the confluence of the north and south branches in Waverly Township in the northeast of Van Buren County. It flows approximately 89 miles (143 km) through Van Buren County and Berrien County until joining the St. Joseph River just above its mouth on Lake Michigan at Benton Harbor. Read More...

Click for a list of Lakes for fishing in our area...

Paw Paw Vineyards

Uncork Paw Paw: Discover our Vineyards!

daisies and vineyardsAll great grape growing, wine-producing areas of the world have one thing in common - a proximity to water. In our state, it’s the proximity to Lake Michigan and the effect it has on
fruit-growing. Referred to as the "lake effect," it is essential for production of quality wines.
  Read more...

Wine & Harvest Festival

Don't miss the Wine & Harvest Festival September 11-13!

aThe Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival offers something for everyone!

Music - 3 stages of entertainment for all musical tastes
Sports - Choose from our hole in one contest, 5k walk/run or our bicycle tour.
Family Activities - Carnival rides, free children's activities in Stompyland, Fireworks on Maple Lake, Parade, and the Grape Stomp.
Wine Enthusiasts - Wine tours and wine tasting tents abound throughout the festival area.
Other activities include: Car show, Arts & Crafts show, turtle derby, and much more!!  Read more...

 

Concerts on the Lake

Concerts on the Lake

live_music

If you enjoy music and good food Paw Paw is the place to be on a Sunday evening this summer. You will enjoy music at the amphitheatre located along the south shore of Maple Lake. Concerts are provided free of charge for your enjoyment by the Paw Paw Downtown Development Authority. Bring a picnic basket and relax for 90 minutes of musical entertainment or visit one of our ‘family of family owned restaurants’ afterward. Read More...