Gun Lake (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Gun Lake is a lake
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, located mostly in Barry County
with the southwestern tip extending into Allegan County
. Along most of the lake are numerous summer homes, cottages, and permanent residences. The Yankee Springs Recreation Area
is based on northeastern portions of the lake. Gun Lake is the location of a State Park
with a boat launch, two beaches, a campground, and picnic areas.
The lake is most famous for its large Walleye population, although according to the last Michigan DNR report in 1991, they only make up about 8.6 percent of the lake's fish. Bullheads are the most prosperous species in the lake, although many of the other species exists peacefully despite their lower percentage of existence.
, which connects by the Kalamazoo River
to Lake Michigan
. The largest nearby lake is Long Lake. In recent years, a small culvert was erected under the road separating Gun and Long Lakes in the Northeast corner of Gun Lake. It leads under the road, and is an easy gateway to get to Long Lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, located mostly in Barry County
Barry County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of...
with the southwestern tip extending into Allegan County
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
. Along most of the lake are numerous summer homes, cottages, and permanent residences. The Yankee Springs Recreation Area
Yankee Springs Recreation Area
Yankee Springs Recreation Area is a state-managed protected area located in Yankee Springs Township in Barry County, Michigan.The park is in area. It has 120 rustic, 200 modern and 25 equestrian camping sites, plus two cabins. There are of cross-county ski/hiking trails, of mountain biking...
is based on northeastern portions of the lake. Gun Lake is the location of a State Park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
with a boat launch, two beaches, a campground, and picnic areas.
Features
Gun lake is shaped like a butterfly; it has two halves that are somewhat symmetrical and shaped like the wings of a butterfly. It reaches approximately 65 feet deep in one spot, while other bays never get deeper than 7 feet. In the Northwest corner is Robbin's Bay, a deep bay that is a popular fishing spot. In the southeast quarter is an island known as "Party Island" to those that do not own it. The owner has then such filed a complaint and the island is no longer open to the public. Hence the name "Party Island" was retired early summer of 2010. On the weekends many boats gather there because of the shallow, sandy rim around the island. Its official name is Orangeville Island. Other than Robbin's Bay, popular fishing spots include Pickeral Cove, on the southern shore, on the left "wing" of the lake, Bairds Cove, and the many channels that protrude off the "butterfly" part of the lake. It is the popular tourist destination in the summer. The shops and businesses sprinkled along the shores and inland enjoy that time of year. In the winter, many activities play a part in the lives of people that live there, such and Winterfest, where events such as a polar bear dip take place, and ice fishing in also a common sight in the cold months.Fishery
In the lake there are populations of Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Muskie, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Gar , Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Freshwater Crustaceans, known as Crayfish, also have some residency in the lake, and can be found in many of the shallows in the summertime as their young grow.The lake is most famous for its large Walleye population, although according to the last Michigan DNR report in 1991, they only make up about 8.6 percent of the lake's fish. Bullheads are the most prosperous species in the lake, although many of the other species exists peacefully despite their lower percentage of existence.
Neighboring lakes
A number of other lakes are closely connected to Gun Lake. An inlet leads to nearby Payne Lake, and also to Fish rearing ponds. The lake's outlet is into the Gun RiverGun River
The Gun River is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, in the United States. It begins at the outlet of Gun Lake at the border between Allegan and Barry counties and flows southwest through Allegan County to its mouth at the Kalamazoo River just east of Otsego.-References:*...
, which connects by the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. The largest nearby lake is Long Lake. In recent years, a small culvert was erected under the road separating Gun and Long Lakes in the Northeast corner of Gun Lake. It leads under the road, and is an easy gateway to get to Long Lake.