Bills Lake

Newaygo County, Michigan · MI DNR bathymetric survey

90ft Max
depth

195 acres 10 contours Public access

Paddling Index52Modestrestricted hours · sheltered geometry

Get directions

Depth scale

05102030405060708090

The lake

Survey readout

Bills Lake is mapped to a depth of 90 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 195 acres in Newaygo County, Michigan.

Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.

Deepest sounding: 90 ft
Mean depth: 20 ft · estimated
Surface area: 195 acres
Estimated volume: 3,910 acre-ft · 1,274M gal
Shoreline: 3.25 mi · irregular
Aquatic vegetation: 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
Public access: Boat Launch

Additional depth details10 contours

Contour depths: 0–90 ft
Recorded point soundings: 90 ft, 80 ft, 40 ft, 40 ft

41.1% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 45.2% is deeper than 20 ft; the survey shows 4 distinct basins. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.

Compare with another lake

Location

Newaygo County, Michigan · 15 nearest of 39 lakes · tap a dot for that lake

Chart data

Provenance

Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.

⚠ Not for navigation

Spot an error? Send a correction

Map details & sources5 sources

All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.

Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Colour shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.

Coordinates: 43.39386, -85.66134
MI DNR lake ID: L16767
Vertical exaggeration: 1.4×
Basemap: USDA NAIP · public domain
Model size: 2.5 MB

Watercraft rules

county-enforced local controls · MI DNR

Restricted hourswhole lake, as mapped

Official rule details2 rules

Restricted hours“Hours for high-speed boating and water skiing”

Restricted hours“Hours for water skiing”

Where the mapped control areas and the official regulation language differ, the language governs. Official county watercraft controls.

Paddling

Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21

52 / 100ModestData confidence: High

Bills Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, generally sheltered geometry, nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Restricted hours.

Why this score?5 components

Included in the index

Component	Rating	Points of weight	Measurement
Natural setting	Mixed	10.0 of 30	49% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (29% forest, 19% wetland; 35% developed)
Geometric wind exposure	Very Good	15.7 of 25	mean fetch 989 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch
Watercraft controls	Restricted hours	9.3 of 15	Restricted hours
Public access	Good	12.8 of 15	1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 7 trailer spaces
Road isolation	Mixed	4.5 of 15	nearby higher-volume roads · 24 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 6,851 vehicles/day

Additional paddling considerations

These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.

Wake sensitivity: Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
Aquatic vegetation: Low — approximately 1% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
Observed motorized activity: Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
Wildlife habitat potential: Moderate — 29% forest and 19% wetland cover within 150 m of shore

Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →

How this index is calculated. The Paddling Index is a relative composite derived from lake geometry and public environmental, access, roadway and watercraft-control data. It is not a user review, a safety rating, or a prediction of an individual outing. Differences of a few points should not be treated as meaningful — an 84 and an 82 are broadly comparable. Components and weights: natural setting 30%, geometric wind exposure 25%, watercraft controls 15%, public access 15%, road isolation 15%; observed motorboat activity is weighted 0% because no defensible lake-level measurement exists. Where a component has no data the remaining weights are renormalized and the confidence rating is lowered; below Medium confidence no number is shown. Sources: MI DNR Boating Access Sites (2026-08), MI DNR Watercraft Control Areas (2026-08), USGS/MRLC NLCD Land Cover (2021), MDOT Annual Average Daily Traffic (2025) and MI DNR bathymetric survey outline (0 ft isobath). Conditions change quickly — check current weather and local conditions before going out.

Fish you might catch

from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking

15 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).

Northern Pike

Common Carp

Walleye

Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Bullhead

Black Crappie

Crappie

Yellow Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Bluegill

Rock Bass

Warmouth

Hybrid Sunfish

Pumpkinseed

Historically stocked, no recent evidence: Rainbow Trout (last planted 1984) — not shown above.

Fishing rules for this lake Beta

Size and daily limits for the 15 species found here — 14 open to harvest, 1 with a special rule or closed season.

These are hook-and-line size, daily limit and season rules. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, spawning closures and rod limits are set by other Fisheries Orders and are not shown here.

Northern PikeSpecial rulesNamed in a fisheries order for this lake — see the rule text below

Black CrappieOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Beta. This panel is newly published. Every value is parsed from the Michigan DNR fisheries orders and hand-checked against the printed digest, but the coverage and wording are still under review. If anything here disagrees with the Michigan DNR's Fisheries Orders or its printed digest, the DNR is right — the signed Fisheries Order is the legal text; the digest summarises it.

BluegillOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

BullheadOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no possession limit (2026 DNR digest · all other species)

Common CarpOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no possession limit (2026 DNR digest · all other species)

CrappieOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Hybrid SunfishOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Largemouth BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: 14" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 5 is in any combination of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, not 5 of each (FO-215.23A).

Northern PikeSpecial rulesNamed in a fisheries order for this lake — see the rule text below

PumpkinseedOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Rock BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Smallmouth BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: 14" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 5 is in any combination of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, not 5 of each (FO-215.23A).

WalleyeOpen to harvestMinimum size: 15" · Daily limit: 5 (FO-215 · statewide inland)

WarmouthOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland) The 25 is in any combination of the sunfishes — Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black and White Crappie, Rock Bass, Green, Longear and Redear Sunfish, Warmouth and hybrids — not 25 of each (FO-215.23A).

Yellow BullheadOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no possession limit (2026 DNR digest · all other species)

Yellow PerchOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (FO-215 · statewide inland)

Official rule text for this lake

“no size limit on Northern Pike and up to five (5) Northern Pike may be retained in the daily possession limit with only one (1) 24-inches or greater.” — FO-206

From FO-206.26 (eff. 2026-04-01) / FO-215.23A (eff. 2023-09-15) / FO-254.25 (eff. 2025-10-10), checked against the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest · verified 2026-08-24. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations

Compiled from registered Master Angler catches, Michigan DNR fishery surveys and Michigan DNR stockings within the last 10 years. Silhouettes are stylized and scaled to typical adult sizes relative to one another. Presence is not a promise — fishing isn’t a sure thing.

Notable catches

Master Angler program · 1997–2025

Trophy-size fish anglers caught here and registered with the DNR — what people have actually caught, distinct from what a survey netted or the state stocked below.

15Catches recorded

5Species

Rock Bass6 recorded · to 12.5″ · latest 2024

Bluegill4 recorded · to 10.4″ · latest 2024

Crappie3 recorded · to 15″ · latest 2025

Bullhead1 recorded · to 14.4″ · latest 2020

Common Carp1 recorded · to 32″ · latest 2010

Biggest on record

Common Carp32″ · 2010 · bowfishing

Crappie15″ · 2015 · spincasting · crawler

Crappie14.5″ · 2024 · spincasting · artificial lure

Bullhead14.4″ · 2020

Crappie14″ · 2025 · ice fishing · artificial lure

Bait: live bait (8) · artificial lure (2)
Method: spincasting (6) · still fishing (4) · trolling (2) · ice fishing (1)

Master Angler entries are fish that met the program’s minimum size and were registered by the angler — they show what this lake has produced, not what a day here will produce. A catch on record is history, not a species listing: “Fish you might catch” lists only species with current evidence. Source: Michigan DNR Master Angler data.

Fishery

527Fish sampled

12Species

Gamefish Northern Pike 143 · Walleye 104 · Largemouth Bass 51 · Smallmouth Bass 1

Panfish Black Crappie 76 · Rock Bass 67 · Bluegill 52

All survey species12 species

Gamefish

Northern Pike143 caught · to 30″

Walleye104 caught · to 25″

Largemouth Bass51 caught · to 17″

Smallmouth Bass1 caught · to 10″

Panfish

Black Crappie76 caught · to 14″

Rock Bass67 caught · to 10″

Bluegill52 caught · to 10″

Yellow Perch11 caught · to 7″

Hybrid Sunfish6 caught · to 8″

Pumpkinseed1 caught · to 7″

Warmouth1 caught · to 6″

Bullhead & catfish

Yellow Bullhead14 caught · to 13″

Stocking: A wide variety of fish species were initially stocked into Bills Lake, including Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye (Table 1).

Length is the largest fish netted in the survey, not an angler record. Source: Michigan DNR Status of the Fishery Resource report (counts summed across survey years).

DNR stocking

state stocking record · 1981–2025

Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.

Walleye257,807 stocked · 1984–2025 · 24 plantings

Yellow Perch3,315 stocked · 2021–2023 · 3 plantings

Rainbow trout21,300 stocked · 1981–1984 · 4 plantings

Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database.

Non-native species records

7 records

Mussels & snails

Chinese Mysterysnail
Zebra Mussel

Plants & algae

Common Reed
Curly-leaf Pondweed
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Narrow-leaved Cattail
Purple Loosestrife

What does non-native mean?

USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.

Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

Bait & tackle nearby

licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distance

Hilltop Express EZ Mart≈0.9 mi · (231) 652-66596353 E 88th St, Newaygo · Google · Apple

CB Trading Post≈3.1 mi · (231) 652-22508249 S Croton Hardy Dr., Newaygo · Google · Apple

M & J Hardware and Video≈4.7 mi6271 S Croton Hardy Dr, Newaygo · Google · Apple

Dealers licensed by the Michigan DNR to sell live bait; listing is not an endorsement. Distances are straight-line, not driving — and call ahead: hours and stock change. Source: Michigan DNR retail bait dealer data.

Quick answers

Bills Lake — common questions

How deep is Bills Lake?

The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Bills Lake is 90 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.

How big is Bills Lake?

Bills Lake covers about 195 acres in Newaygo County, Michigan.

What is the average depth of Bills Lake?

The estimated mean depth of Bills Lake is 20 ft, calculated from the survey contours.

What fish are in Bills Lake?

Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 15 species and the evidence behind each.

Is there public access to Bills Lake?

Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Bills Lake, including Bills Lake.