What is the biggest lake in Michigan?

Lake St. Clair, at 275,000 acres (not counting the Great Lakes).

Biggest inland lakes in Michigan: the top 10 by size

Q: What is the second biggest lake in Michigan?

Houghton Lake, at 20,100 acres.

The ten largest inland lakes in Michigan, biggest first. The Great Lakes are left out: they are seas of their own.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Lake St. Clair	275,000 acres	about 130 mi
2	Houghton Lake	20,100 acres
3	Torch Lake	18,800 acres	about 40 mi
4	Mullett Lake	17,400 acres	about 35 mi
5	Lake Charlevoix	17,200 acres	about 56 mi
6	Burt Lake	17,100 acres	about 30 mi
7	Lake Gogebic	13,400 acres	about 34 mi
8	Big Manistique Lake	10,100 acres	about 24 mi
9	Black Lake	10,100 acres	about 29 mi
10	Crystal Lake	9,850 acres	about 20 mi

1. Lake St. Clair

Lake St. Clair covers 275,000 acres. It holds muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 27 ft. Its bed shows two point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Lake St. Clair today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Houghton Lake

At 20,100 acres, Houghton Lake is a big lake. Walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill are the draw. At about 22 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring.

Houghton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Torch Lake

At some 18,800 acres, Torch Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 1.8 miles south of Rapid City. Smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout and trout are the draw. At about 285 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Torch Lake is Michigan's deepest inland lake and is famous for its turquoise, Caribbean-like clear water.

Torch Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Mullett Lake

Mullett Lake spreads over some 17,400 acres. You will find it near Indian River. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskie. The deepest water is around 148 ft. Mullett Lake is part of Michigan's Inland Waterway and drains to Lake Huron via the Cheboygan River; a remnant native lake sturgeon population still lives there.

Mullett Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Charlevoix

Lake Charlevoix spreads over 17,200 acres. It lies right by Charlevoix. Expect smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout and trout. The deepest water is around 122 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Lake Charlevoix is Michigan's third-largest inland lake and connects to Lake Michigan via the Pine River and Round Lake at the town of Charlevoix.

Lake Charlevoix today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Burt Lake

At 17,100 acres of water, Burt Lake is a big lake. The lake is next to Indian River. Walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike are the draw. At about 73 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Burt Lake is Michigan's fourth-largest inland lake and is part of the Inland Waterway chain of lakes and rivers linking Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.

Burt Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Gogebic

At 13,400 acres, Lake Gogebic is a big lake. The lake is about 16 miles west of Wakefield. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. It goes down to about 38 ft. Lake Gogebic is the largest inland lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and is best known for its walleye and yellow perch fishing.

Lake Gogebic today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Big Manistique Lake

Big Manistique Lake is a natural lake of 10,100 acres of water. You will find it near Newberry. Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskie are the draw. The deepest water is around 20 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Big Manistique Lake is a shallow Upper Peninsula lake that is part of the Manistique Lakes chain, which drains into the Manistique River.

Big Manistique Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Black Lake

Black Lake spreads over 10,100 acres of water. You will find it near Cheboygan. Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskie are the draw. It goes down to about 50 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and an upper arm to work. Black Lake is renowned for its native lake sturgeon population and hosts a strictly regulated winter spear-fishing season for the species.

Black Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake spreads over 9,850 acres of water. It lies next to Beulah. Smallmouth bass, lake trout, trout and northern pike are the draw. The deepest water is around 165 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Crystal Lake in Benzie County is Michigan's ninth-largest inland lake and is noted for its deep, clear water and steep drop-offs near shore. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Crystal Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.