Pickerel Lake
Kalkaska County, Michigan94 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 72 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Pickerel Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 72 ft. Surface area: 93.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Max depth
- 72 ft
- Area
- 94 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Pickerel Lake’s letter
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Pickerel Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 72 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Why Pickerel Lake has no grade
Pickerel Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Pickerel Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 20-foot median from 84 readings collected 2016–2021 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Pickerel Lake is a 94-acre lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 72 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 29 documented fish species including Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, and Bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Pickerel Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water20 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing29 species recorded
- Deep water72 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Pickerel Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. TSI 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 72 ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pickerel Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.403 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.06 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Graded lakes near Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
Where is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake is a lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 72 ft. Surface area: 93.5 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 72 feet. The lake covers 93.5 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Bowfin, Brown bullhead, Common shiner, Creek chub, Golden shiner, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Lake herring, Largemouth bass, Least darter, Longnose gar, Northern Logperch, Northern pearl dace, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Slimy sculpin, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Western banded killifish, Western blacknose dace, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Pickerel Lake is located in Kalkaska County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
84 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS84 samples · 2016–2021
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory