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Big Chub Lake

Otsego Lake, Michigan — Otsego County.

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73Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 83975911).

Location & fast facts

Where Big Chub Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Big Chub Lake.

Fast facts

About Big Chub Lake

  • County: Otsego
  • Town: Otsego Lake
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 195 mi from Detroit and 144 mi from Grand Rapids and 175 mi from Marquette, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Michigan

Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Rainbow trout
  • Camping. 15 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake data (Michigan DNR)

74 ftMaximum depth

Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Rainbow trout.

Stocked: 2010–2026, 17 years; 87,181 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Big Chub Lake, Otsego County, since 2010) and the DNR Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Big Chub Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Big Chub Lake Boat Launch (Boat launch)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Big Chub Lake Boat Launch
    Boat launch · Otsego Lake

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 83975911), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Big Chub Lake

We found 15 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Big Chub Lake, 5 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

9 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Michigan

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.9028, -84.6320). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Big Chub Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Big Chub Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/Detroit), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Big Chub Lake Boat LaunchOtsego Lake—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.9027, -84.6353

    Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Big Chub Lake

    How big is Big Chub Lake?

    Big Chub Lake covers about 73 acres in Otsego Lake, Michigan (Otsego County).

    How deep is Big Chub Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 74 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.

    What fish are in Big Chub Lake?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Rainbow trout.

    Is there a public boat launch on Big Chub Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Big Chub Lake Boat Launch. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Big Chub Lake?

    Yes. We list 15 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Big Chub Lake?

    Big Chub Lake touches Otsego Lake in Otsego County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Big Chub Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Michigan lakes & ponds · All waters in Otsego Lake