Nepessing Lake
depth
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Depth scale
The state-record Pumpkinseed — 2.15 lb — was caught here in 2009. 12.6″ · Stillfishing · on Live Leaf Worm
Survey readout
Nepessing Lake is mapped to a depth of 20 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 420 acres in Lapeer County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey (depths read from the survey's isobath field; this lake's summary-depth column is blank in the source).
- Deepest mapped contour
- 20 ft
- Mean depth
- 9.4 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 420 acres
- Estimated volume
- 3,960 acre-ft · 1,290M gal
- Shoreline
- 3.43 mi · round
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details4 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–20 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 20 ft
54.7% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft; 15.3% is deeper than 20 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.
Compare with another lakeProvenance
Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.
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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
- 43.01497, -83.37350
- MI DNR lake ID
- L2664
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Nepessing Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, moderate open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 8.3 of 30 | 47% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (19% forest, 26% wetland; 41% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 12.8 of 25 | mean fetch 1,307 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 16 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 2.6 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 28 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 32,730 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 — 19% forest and 26% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking24 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
Bowfin
Channel Catfish
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Brown BullheadBullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Bullhead
Redear Sunfish
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Warmouth
Hybrid Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Green Sunfish
Bluntnose Minnow
Central Mudminnow
Emerald Shiner
Blacknose ShinerHistorically stocked, no recent evidence: Tiger Muskellunge (last planted 1989) — not shown above.
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 24 species found here — 24 open to harvest.
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.
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
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 1996–2025Trophy-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.
Catch details by species12 species
Biggest on record
Bait: live bait (3) · artificial lure (3)
Method: spincasting (21) · still fishing (11) · bowfishing (1)
Fishery
DNR SFR 2012-131Gamefish Largemouth Bass 53 · Bowfin 17 · Northern Pike 5 · Walleye 3
Panfish Bluegill 3,167 · Redear Sunfish 1,547 · Pumpkinseed 193
All survey species20 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1979–2019Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Non-native species records
9 recordsMussels & snails
- Chinese Mysterysnail
- Freshwater Golden Clam
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Curly-leaf Pondweed
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Narrow-leaved Cattail
- Purple Loosestrife
- Starry Stonewort
Fish
- Common Carp
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 distanceNepessing Lake — common questions
How deep is Nepessing Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Nepessing Lake is 20 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 Nepessing Lake?
Nepessing Lake covers about 420 acres in Lapeer County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Nepessing Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Nepessing Lake is 9.4 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Nepessing Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie. The page lists all 24 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Nepessing Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Nepessing Lake, including Nepessing Lake.
