Kearsley Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Kearsley Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Tiger Muskie, and 4 more. It is stocked about 2.5 times a year since 1979, most often in April and August. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Crappie, and dawn and dusk for Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Last stocked

August 22, 1984

Plants on record

Since 1979

Species recorded

Surface acres

183.4

Access and facts

Water type: reservoir
Nearest town: Flint
Shore access: Yes

A 175-acre impoundment of Kearsley Creek near Flint. Public shore/carry-down access is available along Layton Boulevard on the north shore; a small boat launch near the upstream end is privately owned and not confirmed open to the public.

Sources: water_type , access , nearest_town , speciesFound

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How Kearsley Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of June. In 1984 it was August 22, 1984, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 1983.

About 8,690 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 7 lakes in Genesee County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Holloway Reservoir (9.9 mi), Buell Lake (10.6 mi), Strawberry Lake (14.8 mi), and Lake Fenton (15.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Holloway Reservoir is also stocked with Tiger Muskie and Walleye, Buell Lake is also stocked with Northern Pike, Strawberry Lake is also stocked with Walleye, and Lake Fenton is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Kearsley Reservoir

Fishing Kearsley Reservoir is most likely to be for Northern Pike. Northern Pike accounts for 5 of 15 plants on record, ahead of Tiger Muskie and 4 more.

Northern Pike 5 plants

Plants: 5 of 15
Last stocked: May 2, 1980

Seasons and rigs are on the Northern Pike guide.

Tiger Muskie 4 plants

Plants: 4 of 15
Last stocked: August 22, 1984

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Muskie guide.

Walleye 3 plants

Plants: 3 of 15
Last stocked: April 24, 1980

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Bluegill 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 15
Last stocked: August 7, 1979

Seasons and rigs are on the Bluegill guide.

Channel Catfish 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 15
Last stocked: September 25, 1979

Seasons and rigs are on the Channel Catfish guide.

Smallmouth Bass 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 15
Last stocked: September 21, 1979

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Fish stocked per year

897,1071979
694,6001980
7001981
7501982
5601984

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
August 22, 1984	Tiger Muskie	560	–	report
August 3, 1982	Tiger Muskie	750	–	report
July 23, 1981	Tiger Muskie	700	–	report
August 11, 1980	Tiger Muskie	1,000	–	report
May 2, 1980	Northern Pike	48,000	–	report
April 24, 1980	Walleye	400,000	–	report
April 22, 1980	Northern Pike	50,000	–	report
April 18, 1980	Northern Pike	195,600	–	report
September 25, 1979	Channel Catfish	20,000	–	report
September 21, 1979	Smallmouth Bass	6,023	–	report
August 7, 1979	Bluegill	71,084	–	report
May 3, 1979	Walleye	191,000	–	report
April 30, 1979	Northern Pike	177,500	–	report
April 27, 1979	Walleye	209,000	–	report
April 27, 1979	Northern Pike	222,500	–	report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Largemouth Bass : Population in good shape with fair opportunity for anglers to catch legal-size fish, per MDNR's 2021 survey. (source)
Yellow Perch : 253 collected in MDNR's 2021 survey, mean 6.9 in, with average growth for the species statewide. (source)
Black Crappie : Among the most abundant sport fish documented in MDNR's assessments of the reservoir. (source)
Round Goby : A non-native, colonized species documented present; MDNR recommends continued monitoring. (source)

Species stocked here

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