Gun Lake, Michigan USA

• Area: 2,680 acres
• Depth: up to 68’ although Gun is generally a shallow lake averaging 8’. 
• Shoreline length: 24.4mi.  The State Park owns a significant portion of shoreline.
• Elevation: 744' above sea level
• Townships and Counties: Yankee Springs township holds the largest portion, followed by Orangeville Township, Martin Township, and Wayland Township.  Gun lies mainly in Barry County with a smaller portion in Allegan County.
• Homes/Population: there are approximately 1,700 waterfront parcels on Gun Lake. Since some residents own more than one parcel, and some parcels contain outbuildings or commercial buildings, it is not easy to know how many actual homes or residents pertain to Gun Lake. The GLPA has about 1,000 members.

Wayland Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,088 at the 2010 census.[3]

Shelbyville is a small unincorporated community in the south of the township on the boundary with Martin Township at 42°35′39″N 85°38′14″W.[7] The Shelbyville ZIP code 49344 serves the southern portion of Wayland Township as well as parts of northern Martin Township, a small area of eastern Hopkins Township and part of Northeast Orangeville Township in Barry County.[8]

The city of Wayland is at the northwest corner of the township, and is administratively autonomous. The Wayland ZIP code 49348 also serves the northern portion of Wayland Township.[9]

Gun Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Barry County with the southwestern tip extending intoAllegan 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.

Gun lake is shaped like a butterfly; it has two halves that are somewhat symmetrical and shaped like the wings of a butterfly. 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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 River, 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.