Fishing Forecast · Michigan · Updated September 2026

Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake earns a B for water quality. This forecast reads its measured clarity, depth, and trophic state — with each species' biology, the sun and moon, and today's conditions — to call when the fish move on Beaver Lake and how to catch them.

39 ft
max depth: 14
fish species: 14.5 ft
water clarity: Oligotrophic
trophic state

Today · Mon Sep 7

★★★★★

The bite on Beaver Lake today. Sunrise 7:13 AM, sunset 8:13 PM.

Moon: Waning Crescent · 19%
Major windows: 9:13 PM–11:13 PM · 9:42 AM–11:42 AM

Best day · next 2 weeks

Fri Sep 11

★★★★★

New Moon moon (0%). Fish the major windows at 12:43 AM and 1:06 PM.

Fishing Forecast for Beaver Lake

A multi-factor outlook built from Beaver Lake's measured water quality — clarity, trophic state, depth, and water-body type — combined with each species' biology, seasonal patterns, and today's live weather. It flags spawn timing, where the fish hold, and the techniques that fit this lake's water, not just the moon.

Northern Pike

Game FishFallFall feed-up

Very Good

~63°F est.

Beaver Lake runs 14.5 ft of clarity and grades B for water quality — so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.

Because Beaver Lake averages 14.5 ft of visibility (clear), so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.
Its oligotrophic nutrient level puts the summer weedline near 15–20 ft — that edge is the high-percentage zone to hold northern pike through the warm months.
With a max depth of 39 ft, Beaver Lake is deep enough to stratify in summer, so coldwater fish hold near the thermocline while warmwater fish stay above it.

Techniques for clear water

jerkbaits & bucktailsnatural perch/cisco colors

Season-by-season on Beaver Lake

Season	Where	Structure	How
Spring	shallow 2–8 ft	weedy bays, marsh mouths, warming flats	spoons, spinnerbaits, big soft plastics
Summer	weed edges 6–18 ft; big pike deeper/cooler	cabbage/coontail edges, deep weedlines, cool water	large spoons, jerkbaits, dead-bait for big fish
Fall	variable 6–25 ft	deep weed edges, drop-offs, cisco/tullibee lakes	big swimbaits, sucker/dead-bait rigs — trophy season
Winter / Ice	6–20 ft	weed edges and flats	tip-ups with large shiners/suckers

Brook Trout

Trout, Salmon & ColdwaterFallFall feed-up

Very Good

~63°F est.

Beaver Lake runs 14.5 ft of clarity and grades B for water quality — so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.

Because Beaver Lake averages 14.5 ft of visibility (clear), so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.
Its oligotrophic nutrient level puts the summer weedline near 15–20 ft — that edge is the high-percentage zone to hold brook trout through the warm months.
With a max depth of 39 ft, Beaver Lake is deep enough to stratify in summer, so coldwater fish hold near the thermocline while warmwater fish stay above it.

Techniques for clear water

small natural spoons, spinners & flies, light line

Season-by-season on Beaver Lake

Season	Where	Structure	How
Spring	shallow 2–12 ft	near shore and inflows as water is cold	small spoons, spinners, flies, worms
Summer	deep/cool near thermocline	cold, oxygenated depths and spring seeps	trolling small spoons deep; target cold water
Fall	shallow 2–12 ft	gravel/spawning areas — strong feed then closure	spinners and flies; respect spawning closures
Winter / Ice	5–20 ft	stocked-lake ice fishery	small jigs, spoons, waxworms

A sensitive coldwater species and water-quality indicator — check special regulations and spawning closures.

Rainbow Trout

Trout, Salmon & ColdwaterFallFall feed-up

Prime

~63°F est.

Beaver Lake runs 14.5 ft of clarity and grades B for water quality — so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.

Because Beaver Lake averages 14.5 ft of visibility (clear), so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.
Its oligotrophic nutrient level puts the summer weedline near 15–20 ft — that edge is the high-percentage zone to hold rainbow trout through the warm months.
With a max depth of 39 ft, Beaver Lake is deep enough to stratify in summer, so coldwater fish hold near the thermocline while warmwater fish stay above it.

Techniques for clear water

spoons, spinners & flies, light linenatural presentations

Season-by-season on Beaver Lake

Season	Where	Structure	How
Spring	shallow-to-mid 3–15 ft	near shore and inflows in cool water	spoons, spinners, PowerBait, flies
Summer	deep near thermocline 15–35 ft	cold oxygenated layer over the basin	trolling spoons/flies at depth
Fall	shallow-to-mid 3–20 ft	cooling water brings them up	spoons, spinners, flies
Winter / Ice	5–25 ft	clear lakes / stocked ice fishery	small jigs, spoons, PowerBait

Yellow Perch

PanfishFallFall feed-up

Very Good

~63°F est.

Beaver Lake runs 14.5 ft of clarity and grades B for water quality — so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.

Because Beaver Lake averages 14.5 ft of visibility (clear), so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.
Its oligotrophic nutrient level puts the summer weedline near 15–20 ft — that edge is the high-percentage zone to hold yellow perch through the warm months.
With a max depth of 39 ft, Beaver Lake is deep enough to stratify in summer, so coldwater fish hold near the thermocline while warmwater fish stay above it.

Techniques for clear water

small natural jigs & drop-shotminnows/plastics, light line

Season-by-season on Beaver Lake

Season	Where	Structure	How
Spring	shallow 4–12 ft	weedy/soft-bottom flats, spawning cover	small jigs, minnows, worms
Summer	mid 10–25 ft	sand and gravel flats, weed edges	drop-shot & jigs with minnows/plastics
Fall	mid-to-deep 15–35 ft	basin flats — schools pack up	jigging small spoons and minnows
Winter / Ice	15–35 ft	deep flats and basin	tungsten jigs and small spoons — a top ice target

Rock Bass

PanfishFallFall feed-up

Very Good

~63°F est.

Beaver Lake runs 14.5 ft of clarity and grades B for water quality — so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.

Because Beaver Lake averages 14.5 ft of visibility (clear), so finesse presentations and natural colors on light line tend to out-fish reaction baits.
Its oligotrophic nutrient level puts the summer weedline near 15–20 ft — that edge is the high-percentage zone to hold rock bass through the warm months.
With a max depth of 39 ft, Beaver Lake is deep enough to stratify in summer, so coldwater fish hold near the thermocline while warmwater fish stay above it.

Techniques for clear water

small jigs & crayfish plastics

Season-by-season on Beaver Lake

Season	Where	Structure	How
Spring	shallow 3–10 ft	rock, boulder, gravel banks	small jigs, live bait, crankbaits
Summer	mid 6–18 ft	rock structure, docks	jigs, small soft plastics
Fall	mid 6–18 ft	rock structure	jigs and live bait
Winter / Ice	10–20 ft	deeper rock	small jigs

The outlook is a transparent heuristic weighting of established angling factors, this lake's measured water quality, and live conditions — not a validated catch predictor. Water temperature is estimated from season and latitude unless a recent USGS gauge reading is available. Planning a meal? Check fish-consumption advisories for Beaver Lake. Always follow current state regulations.

14-Day Fishing Calendar

Plan the next two weeks on Beaver Lake. Anglers target Bluntnose minnow, Brook stickleback, Brook trout, Johnny darter, and others on Beaver Lake.

Date	Rating	Moon	Sunrise	Sunset	Major Periods	Minor Periods
Mon, Sep 7	☆☆☆☆☆	Waning Crescent 19% lit	7:13 AM	8:13 PM	9:13 PM – 11:13 PM 9:42 AM – 11:42 AM	1:58 AM – 2:58 AM 6:10 PM – 7:10 PM
Tue, Sep 8	½☆☆☆☆	Waning Crescent 11% lit	7:14 AM	8:11 PM	10:11 PM – 12:11 AM 10:38 AM – 12:38 PM	3:22 AM – 4:22 AM 6:37 PM – 7:37 PM
Wed, Sep 9	★☆☆☆☆	Waning Crescent 5% lit	7:15 AM	8:09 PM	11:05 PM – 1:05 AM 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM	4:44 AM – 5:44 AM 6:59 PM – 7:59 PM
Thu, Sep 10	★½☆☆☆	Waning Crescent 2% lit	7:17 AM	8:07 PM	11:55 PM – 1:55 AM 12:19 PM – 2:19 PM	6:04 AM – 7:04 AM 7:19 PM – 8:19 PM
Fri, Sep 11	★★½☆☆	New Moon 0% lit	7:18 AM	8:05 PM	12:43 AM – 2:43 AM 1:06 PM – 3:06 PM	7:21 AM – 8:21 AM
Sat, Sep 12	★★☆☆☆	New Moon 1% lit	7:19 AM	8:03 PM	1:29 AM – 3:29 AM 1:52 PM – 3:52 PM	7:36 PM – 8:36 PM 8:37 AM – 9:37 AM
Sun, Sep 13	★½☆☆☆	Waxing Crescent 4% lit	7:20 AM	8:01 PM	2:14 AM – 4:14 AM 2:37 PM – 4:37 PM	7:54 PM – 8:54 PM 9:50 AM – 10:50 AM
Mon, Sep 14	½☆☆☆☆	Waxing Crescent 9% lit	7:22 AM	7:59 PM	3:00 AM – 5:00 AM 3:24 PM – 5:24 PM	8:13 PM – 9:13 PM 11:03 AM – 12:03 PM
Tue, Sep 15	☆☆☆☆☆	Waxing Crescent 16% lit	7:23 AM	7:57 PM	3:47 AM – 5:47 AM 4:11 PM – 6:11 PM	8:35 PM – 9:35 PM 12:14 PM – 1:14 PM
Wed, Sep 16	☆☆☆☆☆	Waxing Crescent 24% lit	7:24 AM	7:55 PM	4:36 AM – 6:36 AM 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM	9:01 PM – 10:01 PM 1:23 PM – 2:23 PM
Thu, Sep 17	★½☆☆☆	Waxing Crescent 34% lit	7:25 AM	7:53 PM	5:25 AM – 7:25 AM 5:51 PM – 7:51 PM	9:33 PM – 10:33 PM 2:26 PM – 3:26 PM
Fri, Sep 18	★★½☆☆	First Quarter 44% lit	7:27 AM	7:51 PM	6:16 AM – 8:16 AM 6:42 PM – 8:42 PM	10:13 PM – 11:13 PM 3:21 PM – 4:21 PM
Sat, Sep 19	★★☆☆☆	First Quarter 55% lit	7:28 AM	7:49 PM	7:07 AM – 9:07 AM	11:03 PM – 12:03 AM 4:07 PM – 5:07 PM
Sun, Sep 20	★☆☆☆☆	Waxing Gibbous 65% lit	7:29 AM	7:47 PM	7:32 PM – 9:32 PM 7:57 AM – 9:57 AM	12:01 AM – 1:01 AM 4:44 PM – 5:44 PM

Server-rendered 14-day calendar starting 2026-09-07. Live in your browser shortly.

Methodology

How this forecast works

A plain solunar table only knows the moon. The LakeQuality Fishing Forecast starts there and adds what actually decides where and how fish bite on Beaver Lake — factors we measure rather than guess:

Water clarity — Beaver Lake's Secchi reading flips the playbook between clear-water finesse and stained-water reaction baits, and sets the low-light bite window.
Trophic state & depth — nutrient level and max depth set the summer weedline and whether the lake stratifies, which tells you how deep to fish.
Water-body type — natural lake vs. reservoir changes the structure that holds fish.
Species & season — each species' spawn-temperature window and seasonal movements, matched to the lake's estimated water temperature.
Sun & moon — the solunar major/minor periods and dawn/dusk twilight in the calendar below.

The species outlook is a transparent heuristic weighting of these established factors, and it now also factors in today's live conditions — wind, cloud cover, and the barometric (pressure) trend, recomputed for the current day. It's not a validated catch predictor, and water temperature is still an estimate from season and latitude unless a recent USGS gauge reading exists. It's the analysis a solunar table can't do, grounded in Beaver Lake's real, measured water quality.

How to read the calendar

Major periods (≈2 hours) are centered on lunar transit (when the moon is highest in the sky) and lunar opposition (when the moon is directly underfoot). These are typically the strongest feeding windows.

Minor periods (≈1 hour) are centered on moonrise and moonset. They're secondary windows that often produce well — especially when they coincide with sunrise or sunset.

Day rating combines moon phase (peak near new and full moons, when lunar gravity is strongest) with the overlap of major periods and the dawn/dusk twilight. A 4–5 star day stacks all three.

At Beaver Lake (lat 46.57°N), the longest day of the year is around June 21 with 15h 50m of daylight. The shortest is around December 21 with 8h 34m. Plan summer trips around the early-morning bite (as early as 5:00 AM) and the long evening window before sunset.

Frequently asked questions

What makes this better than a solunar fishing table for Beaver Lake?

A solunar table only uses the moon. The LakeQuality Fishing Forecast adds Beaver Lake's measured water quality — its clear water, trophic state, depth, and water-body type — matched to each species' spawn window and seasonal movements. That measured data drives where the fish hold and which techniques fit this lake's water, then the solunar calendar below adds the sun/moon timing. It's a transparent, multi-factor outlook, not a validated catch guarantee.

What is the best time to fish Beaver Lake today?

Today's solunar calendar for Beaver Lake (lat 46.57, lon -86.33) shows sunrise at 7:13 AM and sunset at 8:13 PM. The strongest fishing windows are around major solunar periods at 9:13 PM–11:13 PM and 9:42 AM–11:42 AM, plus the 30-90 minutes around dawn and dusk.

What does the moon phase mean for fishing Beaver Lake?

Solunar theory holds that fish activity peaks during major periods (when the moon is overhead or directly underfoot) and minor periods (moonrise and moonset). Fish feeding tends to intensify during the days surrounding the new moon and full moon, when lunar gravity is strongest. Today's moon at Beaver Lake is Waning Crescent (19% illuminated).

When are the longest and shortest days at Beaver Lake?

At Beaver Lake's latitude (46.57°N), the longest day of the year is around June 21 with about 15h 50m of daylight. The shortest day is around December 21 with about 8h 34m of daylight. Sunrise and sunset shift by roughly 6 hours between solstices.

Are major or minor solunar periods more important?

Major periods (about 2 hours, centered on lunar transit and lunar opposition) are generally considered the strongest feeding windows. Minor periods (about 1 hour, centered on moonrise and moonset) are secondary but still productive — especially when they overlap with sunrise or sunset.

More for Beaver Lake

Where to stay near Beaver Lake

Top-rated places to stay near Beaver Lake

Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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The species outlook is a transparent, multi-factor heuristic built from Beaver Lake's measured water quality (clarity, trophic state, depth, water-body type) and established species biology, and it now also factors in today's live conditions — wind, cloud cover, and the barometric (pressure) trend, recomputed for the current day. It's not a validated catch predictor, and water temperature is still an estimate from season and latitude unless a recent USGS gauge reading is available. Solunar times use lat/lon and Meeus astronomical formulas, shown in Eastern Time. Always check local regulations and current conditions before fishing.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.

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