Michigan lake depth maps
Ford Lake depth map
Ford Lake in Mason County, Michigan reaches a depth of 84 feet. The official Michigan survey maps 18 depth bands across 19 contour lines. This free map of Ford Lake shows every surveyed contour as an interactive depth chart you can use to plan a session before you travel.
Ford Lake depth chart: 18 depth bands to 84 ft
Data: Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours (public record), retrieved August 2026 · depths change over time · not for navigation
| Depth contour | Share of mapped area inside it |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | about 100% |
| 10 ft | about 89% |
| 20 ft | about 74% |
| 30 ft | about 61% |
| 40 ft | about 46% |
| 50 ft | about 34% |
| 60 ft | about 26% |
| 70 ft | about 16% |
| 80 ft | about 11% |
Share of the surveyed surface area enclosed by each depth contour, computed from the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours data.
How to fish Ford Lake: deep, two-story water
At 84 feet, this is a two-story fishery: warm-water species work the shallows and weed edges while the deep basin can hold cold-water fish below the summer thermocline. In summer, target the transition where the bottom breaks from the shallow shelf toward the basin; fish suspend along that edge at dawn and dusk. The 18 mapped depth bands make it straightforward to find those breaks before you launch.
Ice fishing on Ford Lake
On deep water like Ford Lake, the winter bite concentrates along the first major drop-off rather than the deepest basin. Use the contours above to find where the shallow shelf breaks toward deep water and set up on that edge; panfish and walleye slide up and down it through the day. Late ice often pushes fish shallower again. Always verify ice thickness locally before walking out, and remember deep lakes freeze later and less evenly than shallow ones.
Ford Lake depth map FAQs
- How deep is Ford Lake?
- Ford Lake reaches a maximum depth of 84 feet, according to the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey. Most of the lake is shallower, with 18 mapped depth bands between the shoreline and the deepest hole.
- Where is the deepest part of Ford Lake?
- The deepest surveyed water on Ford Lake sits toward the northwestern corner of the lake, inside the 84 ft contour. The interactive depth map above shows the full basin outline and the breaks leading into it.
- How accurate is this Ford Lake depth map?
- The contours come from the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey. Depths change over time with water levels and sediment, so treat this map as a planning guide for fishing, and never use it for navigation.
Depth maps for lakes near Ford Lake
- Bass Lake depth map · 45 ft max · 8 mi away
- Pine Lake depth map · 50 ft max · 12 mi away
- Hamlin Lake depth map · 65+ ft max · 15 mi away
- North Lake depth map · 28 ft max · 19 mi away
- Portage Lake depth map · 60 ft max · 22 mi away
Mapped fishing venues near Ford Lake
Ford Lake in the venue directory covers access and fishing details for this water.
- Bass Lake · 8 mi away
- Maple Leaf Fishing Access Site · 8 mi away
- Pine Lake · 12 mi away
Fishing in Michigan needs a state license: Michigan fishing license guide · all Michigan venues