Gun Lake
Mason County, Michigan232 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Gun Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 22 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Gun Lake in Mason County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 232.1 acres.
Gun Lake is a 232-acre mesotrophic lake in Mason County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Mason County, Gun Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Gun Lake covers about 230 acres in Mason County. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Gun Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Gun Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Fishing6 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Gun Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Gun Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Gun Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.2 µg/L. TSI 38.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 9µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.2µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 38 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Gun Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Gun Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 63 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gun Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Max depth
22 ft
Surface area
232 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Gun Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gun Lake in Mason County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Gun Lake
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Fish Species
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Fishing Gun Lake
Nearby Lakes in Mason County
Frequently asked questions about Gun Lake
Where is Gun Lake?
- Gun Lake is a lake in Mason County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Gun Lake?
- Gun Lake in Mason County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 232.1 acres.
Is Gun Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gun Lake?
- Gun Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 63 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gun Lake?
- Gun Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 232.1 acres.
What fish are in Gun Lake?
- Fish species found in Gun Lake include Blackchin shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Creek chub, Western banded killifish, Yellow perch. Gun Lake is located in Mason County, Michigan.
Can I fish at Gun Lake?
- Public access to Gun Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Gun Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Mason County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS15 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.