Bills Lake fishing

Fishing at Bills Lake has Rainbow Trout and Walleye on the stocking report. It is stocked about 0.2 times a year since 1981, most often in April and October. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Last stocked

November 6, 2025

Plants on record

10

Since 1981

Species recorded

2

Surface acres

198.2

Access and facts

Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms

A DNR-listed public boating access site with 1 launch lane serves the lake. Administered by Newaygo State Park; a Recreation Passport is required. 1 toilet on site.

Sources: access , shore_notes , facilities , access.fee

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How Bills Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of October. In 2025 it was November 6, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 35 years between 1981 and 2025.

About 135 reported fish per acre, 7th most of 9 lakes in Newaygo County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish at Bills Lake

Fishing Bills Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 6 of 10 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout.

Around the dates Bills Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 51.8°F in October, 44.9°F in April, 57.8°F in May, 38.6°F in November. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye 6 plants
Plants
6 of 10
Last stocked
November 6, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Rainbow Trout 4 plants
Plants
4 of 10
Last stocked
May 2, 1984

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 5,0001981
  • 5,5001982
  • 6,0001983
  • 4,8001984
  • 7972016
  • 8742017
  • 8002018
  • 8002021
  • 8022023
  • 1,3242025

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
November 6, 2025 Walleye 1,324 – report
October 3, 2023 Walleye 802 – report
October 5, 2021 Walleye 800 – report
October 3, 2018 Walleye 800 – report
October 3, 2017 Walleye 874 – report
October 11, 2016 Walleye 797 – report
May 2, 1984 Rainbow Trout 4,800 – report
May 11, 1983 Rainbow Trout 6,000 – report
April 27, 1982 Rainbow Trout 5,500 – report
April 8, 1981 Rainbow Trout 5,000 – report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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