Map

Derby Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Michigan, United States

4.4·134 catches

Top fish species at Derby Lake

App Section

Check which species have trophy potential in Derby Lake

Derby Lake fishing reports

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Rock bass

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Bluegill

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

11 in · 1 lb

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

10 in · 1 lb

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

13 in · 2 lb

Fishbrain
More catches in the app...

Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

General info

Derby Lake is a lake located in Montcalm County, Michigan, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Rock bass.

Location

43°16′27.1″N 85°07′41.5″W
Directions

Official website

www.mcgi.state.mi.us

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Derby Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Derby Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

Bite time image

Fishing regulations at Derby Lake, MI

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Michigan can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

License Icon
Local laws and licenses

Michigan fishing license

Get license

Reviews of Derby Lake

4.4
Loading...

5 ratings

5
4
3
2
1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Sheridan

5.3 miles away

Crystal

10.1 miles away

Edmore

10.3 miles away

Trufant

11.7 miles away

Belding

13.3 miles away

Palo

13.4 miles away

Lakeview

13.8 miles away

Carson City

15.6 miles away

Riverdale

16.3 miles away

Pierson

18.8 miles away

Winn

20.4 miles away

Ionia

20.7 miles away

Cedar Springs

21.7 miles away

Morley

21.9 miles away

Lyons

22.1 miles away

Cannonsburg

23.0 miles away

Saranac

24.2 miles away

Alma

24.8 miles away

Maple Rapids

24.9 miles away

Lowell

25.9 miles away

Ithaca

26.8 miles away

Westphalia

29.0 miles away

Portland

30.2 miles away

Clarksville

30.4 miles away

Anything missing or inaccurate?

Suggest changes to improve what we show.

Suggest changes

FAQ about Derby Lake fishing

📍 Where is Derby Lake located?
Derby Lake is a lake located in Montcalm County, Michigan, United States. Its coordinates are:
43°16′27.1″N 85°07′41.5″W
.
🎣 Where on Derby Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Derby Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Derby Lake?
The most common species in Derby Lake are:
  • Largemouth bass - 22 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Bluegill - 11 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Rock bass - 7 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Derby Lake fishing reports?
The latest Derby Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Derby Lake?

Fishing in Michigan requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident, non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination licenses, available online or at licensed agents.

In Michigan, no fishing license is required for anglers under 17 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license
App Section
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.

Free trial available

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...