{{Short description| Lake in the state of Michigan, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Missaukee | image = Lake_Missaukee_(Michigan).jpg | image_size = 275 | caption = View from Miltner Park in Lake City | pushpin_map = Michigan | pushpin_map_caption= Location within the state of Michigan | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Missaukee County, Michigan | coords = {{Coord|44|19|23|N|85|14|15|W|display=inline, title}} | type = Glacial lake | inflow = groundwater and rainfall | outflow = Mosquito Creek to Clam River | basin_countries = United States | shore= | area = {{convert|1880|acres|ha}} | max-depth = {{convert|27|ft|m|abbr=on}} | islands = | elevation = {{convert|1237|ft|m|abbr=on}} | cities = {{plainlist|1= *Caldwell Township *Lake City *Lake Township }} }} '''Lake Missaukee''' is a freshwater lake located in Missaukee County in the U.S. state of Michigan.<ref>{{gnis|632496}}</ref> The lake is mostly surrounded by Lake Township, while bordering Lake City to the east and a very small portion extending north into Caldwell Township.
==Geology== Lake Missaukee is classified as a glacial lake, and it has its origins about 11,000 years ago at the end of the Last Glacial Period.<ref>{{cite web |last = Smith |first = Jeff |url = https://mynorth.com/2015/02/iconic-outdoor-attraction-lake-missaukee/ |title = Iconic Outdoor Attraction: Lake Missaukee |date = February 4, 2015 |access-date = July 30, 2020 }}</ref> The lake has a surface area of approximately {{convert|1880|acres|ha}} and a maximum depth of {{convert|27|ft|m|}}. Most of the lake has a depth of less than {{convert|15|ft|m|}}. The lake has a surface elevation of {{convert|1237|ft|m}} and is close to several other lakes, including Crooked Lake and Sapphire Lake, as well as numerous smaller lakes.<ref name=STATE>{{cite web |last = Tonello |first = Mark |url = https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/SFR2018-261_656410_7.pdf |title = Lake Missaukee, Missaukee County |date = 2018 |access-date = July 31, 2020 }}</ref><ref name=LAKE>{{cite web |last = Lake-Link Inc. |url = https://www.lake-link.com/michigan-lakes/missaukee-county/missaukee-lake/22837/ |title = Missaukee Lake |date = 2020 |access-date = July 30, 2020 }}</ref>
It is the largest lake in Missaukee County and is considered part of the Muskegon River watershed. Because Lake Missaukee sits at a relatively high elevation, the lake has a very small watershed of only {{convert|1775|acres|ha}}, which is smaller than the lake itself. The lake has no primary outflow, but water levels are controlled with drainage into the small Mosquito Creek. The creek eventually flows into the Clam River, which leads into the Muskegon River to Lake Michigan.<ref name=STATE/>
==Activities== The shores of the lake were first inhabited by European settlers as early as the late 1860s, and logging was a prominent industry until the early 1900s. The lake was used to float logs to the numerous sawmills and other factories surrounding the lake. None of these industries presently exist along the lake, although debris remnants of the past logging industry can still be found in the lake.<ref name=STATE/>
Lake Missaukee is easily accessible, with the city of Lake City to the east. M-55/M-66 runs along the eastern coastline through Lake City. The larger city of Cadillac is located 15 minutes west.<ref>{{cite web |last = Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau |url = https://cadillacmichigan.com/project/lake-missaukee/ |title = Lake Missaukee |date = 2020 |access-date = July 30, 2020 }}</ref>
The lake serves as a recreational area for fishing, swimming, and boating, and there are numerous parks and beaches surrounding the lake. There are several public access boat launches, including one maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the northern end of the lake at Missaukee County Park.<ref>{{cite web |last = Michigan Department of Natural Resources |url = http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mrbis/BASDetail.aspx?basid=A-57-009 |title = Michigan's Recreational Boating Information System (MRBIS): Boating Access Site Detail (Missaukee County Park) |date = 2020 |access-date = July 31, 2020 }}</ref>
===Fishing=== Popular among fishermen, common fish include bluegill, black crappie, brown bullhead, large and smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch.<ref name=LAKE/><ref>{{cite web |last = Michigan Department of Natural Resources |url = https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79146_81198_81199_85286-316184--,0.html |title = Lake Missaukee |date = 2020 |access-date = July 30, 2020 }}</ref> There are also rare sightings of common carp.<ref name=STATE/> The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocks walleye in the lake, and the numerous fish populations are routinely monitored.<ref>{{cite web |last = Michigan Department of Natural Resources |url = https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/FishStock/?qry=1&Water=9348&StartMonth=1&StartDate=1979&EndMonth=7&EndDate=2020&STOCKDATE=true |title = Fish Stocking Database: Lake Missaukee |date = 2020 |access-date = July 30, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Cadillac News |url = https://www.cadillacnews.com/news/dnr-conducts-fish-surveys-on-lake-missaukee/article_2debba1e-d41f-5388-9b31-816e9625eec5.html |title = DNR conducts fish surveys on Lake Missaukee |date = May 19, 2018 |access-date = July 31, 2020 }}</ref> Lake Missaukee contains numerous listings on the state's Master Angler Entries, in which the largest recorded fish caught was a northern pike at {{convert|19.67|lb|kg|2}} and {{convert|40|in|cm|1}} long.<ref>{{cite web |last = Michigan Department of Natural Resources |url = https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/masterangler/?qry=1&WBKey=22N08W0101 |title = Master Angler Entries: Lake Missaukee |date = 2020 |access-date = July 31, 2020 }}</ref> Invasive species within the lake include Eurasian milfoil and zebra mussels.<ref name=STATE/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Missaukee Category:Bodies of water of Missaukee County, Michigan Category:Tourist attractions in Missaukee County, Michigan Category:Lake City, Michigan