Silver Island Lake

How big is Silver Island Lake?

How deep is Silver Island Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Silver Island Lake?

Are there boat launches on Silver Island Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Silver Island Lake?

Silver Island Lake has an area of 1,239 acres with a maximum depth of 16 feet and has water clarity around 4.5 feet with brown bog-stained color. The lake is located about 10 miles northeast of Isabella. There are three accesses to the lake. The primary access is a concrete ramp at the USFS campground on the southeast part of the lake. The shore here is boulder and rubble but there are some boat docks present for campers to tie their boats to. A second access is a USFS maintained carry in with remote campsites on the south end of the lake. This is the old access and the road has become pretty brushy but the access itself is nice because it is in a protected bay with a shallow sandy beach. The third access is a portage trail from Tee Lake on the south shore of the east bay of the lake.

The 2016 Walleye gill net catch in 9 sets was 22.1/net, which is well above average compared to similar lakes in the area. The average weight of 0.6 pounds per fish is small compared to similar lakes. The largest fish sampled was 24.3 inches long and weighed 5 pounds. Eleven different year classes were sampled and growth rate of Walleye is considered average for the Finland Area.

Black Crappie gill net catch was 1.4/net with an average weight nearly a half a pound each, both are considered average for similar lakes in the area. The largest fish sampled was 13 inches long and weighed 1.3 pounds. Crappies are not found in many lakes in the Finland Area and their reproduction is usually sporadic. This year 75% of the catch were age-4 that ranged in size from 8.5 to 9.9 inches long in July. This bodes well for the next year or two with anglers expecting to catch fish mainly in the 10 to 12 inch range.

Lake Whitefish gill net catch was 3.3/net with an average weight of 1.3 pounds, both are considered normal for similar lakes. The largest fish sampled was 18.9 inches long and weighed 2.5 pounds. Lake Whitefish growth is average for the area. Silver Island Lake is open to whitefish netting in the fall. A netting license is needed and fishermen need to read the synopsis for all applicable rules.

Northern Pike gill net catch of 3.4/net and average weight of 1.4 pounds are normal for similar lakes, as is the growth rate. The largest fish sampled was 29 inches long and weighed 4.9 pounds.

Yellow Perch gill net catch was 11.9/net with an average weight of 0.19 pounds, both normal for similar lakes in the area. The largest fish sampled was 10.9 inches long, and 11% of the catch was greater than nine inches long.

White Sucker gill net catch was 14.7/net, which is above average for similar lakes. Average weight of 1.5 pounds is considered normal. Rock Bass and Pumpkinseed were also sampled in gill and trap nets.

Silver Island Lake is one of the more popular fishing lakes in the Finland Area. It is known as a good Walleye lake, but the average size is a bit on the small side. Fishermen sometimes target Crappies with success too. The lake has a USFS non-fee campground at the access and a number of remote and water access only campsites. Because the lake has dark bog stained water, fishing is usually good during daylight, although extreme care is needed when motoring because many boulders are present, especially in the narrows leading to the south basin. The deep hole is in the middle of the lake, slightly on the north end just 50 yards or so from 3 large boulders just above the waterline. There are many other boulders just below the waterline scattered throughout the lake. The lake also gets use in the fall from duck hunters and whitefish netters.

What is the average air temp for Silver Island Lake?

Are there any state parks near Silver Island Lake?