Big Trout Lake, Trout Lake, MI

Big Trout Lake, aka Carp Lake, at Trout Lake MI, is a 560 acre all sports lake. It has a maximum depth of about thirty-five feet, although much of the lake is less than twenty feet deep. The water, although clear, has a tea color, typical of northern lakes that contain tannin from the bark of conifers which grow along the banks of the streams and shores.

The lake is part of a drainage network which connects Little Trout Lake, Frenchman's Lake, Wegwas Lake and Mud Lake, and is the headwaters of the Carp River, which flows into Lake Huron, east of St. Ignace.

The DNR constructed a spawning bed for walleye a couple of decades back, and the lake now has a sustaining population. The lake also has bass, perch, bluegill and some trout and even salmon can at times be found. The lake has a public boat launch at the Township Park on the north side of the Lake.

The earliest settlement in the area was related to logging the forest prior to 1880. Before the railroad was constructed, the lake and the river were used for transporting logs to the Bay of Moran on Lake Huron. The town of Trout Lake was founded as the railroad came through the area, in 1881.

Although much of the lake is surrounded with cottages and summer homes, they are largely a product of building since the 1950's. Birch Lodge, on the northeast shore of the lake, is probably the oldest structure standing on the lake. Earlier in the 20th century, winter ice was cut on the lake for the use of the town of Trout Lake as well as the lodge. Ice was stored at a local barn, and covered with sawdust until it was needed in the warm weather.

Summer visitors today enjoy fishing, boating, swimming and cook-outs on the lake. The township park is a popular location for family reunions, camping and celebrating the Forth of July with fireworks. Of course those fireworks don't often compare to what we see relaxing on the shore and watching the sun go down.