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Lake James

Denton · Backus, Michigan — Roscommon County.

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180Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 121857946).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake James is in Michigan

The red circle marks Lake James.

Fast facts

About Lake James

  • County: Roscommon
  • Shore towns: Denton, Backus
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 157 mi from Detroit and 106 mi from Grand Rapids and 205 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

  • Fishing. Fathead minnow and Hybrid sunfish
  • Camping. 14 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Fathead minnow, Hybrid sunfish.

Stocked: 2017, 2020; 179,084 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Lake James, Roscommon County, since 2010). These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Lake James shoreline

½ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Michigan DNR boating access sites data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 121857946), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake James

We found 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake James. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

8 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 (44.2931, -84.6249). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake James. 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 Lake James

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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake James

    How big is Lake James?

    Lake James covers about 180 acres in Denton and Backus, Michigan (Roscommon County).

    What fish are in Lake James?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Fathead minnow and Hybrid sunfish.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake James?

    Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Lake James?

    Lake James touches Denton and Backus in Roscommon County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake James? 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 Denton