Channel Catfish Stocked · 12 plants · last September 27, 2005 Best: dusk, night Sessions Lake fishing
Sessions Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Brown Trout, and Channel Catfish on a reservoir. Also recorded: Bluegill, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 1985, most often in September and October. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Crappie, and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Bluegill.
- Last stocked
- November 6, 2025
- · Walleye
- Plants on record
- 38
- Since 1985
- Species stocked
- 4 (+3 also recorded)
- Surface acres
- 133.9
Fish at Sessions Lake
Channel Catfish Stocked · 12 plants · last September 27, 2005 Best: dusk, night 
Walleye Stocked · 11 plants · last November 6, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 9 plants · last October 17, 1990 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brown Trout Stocked · 6 plants · last October 3, 1990 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Bluegill Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Bluegill species guide
Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Crappie species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth Bass species guideHow Sessions Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 17 years between 1985 and 2025.
Fish stocked in 1985
1,510,500
Fish stocked in 1986
14,150
Fish stocked in 1987
8,250
Fish stocked in 1988
16,650
Fish stocked in 1989
6,950
Fish stocked in 1990
25,491
Fish stocked in 1997
7,010
Fish stocked in 1998
2,554
Fish stocked in 1999
5,900
Fish stocked in 2000
7,008
Fish stocked in 2001
3,504
Fish stocked in 2002
10,002
Fish stocked in 2003
3,509
Fish stocked in 2004
6,538
Fish stocked in 2005
8,763
Fish stocked in 2011
20,261
Fish stocked in 2012
7,513
Fish stocked in 2015
7,000
Fish stocked in 2016
560
Fish stocked in 2017
626
Fish stocked in 2019
560
Fish stocked in 2021
560
Fish stocked in 2023
560
Fish stocked in 2025
924
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 6, 2025 | Walleye | 924 | – | report |
| October 3, 2023 | Walleye | 560 | – | report |
| October 11, 2021 | Walleye | 78 | – | report |
| October 8, 2021 | Walleye | 482 | – | report |
| October 1, 2019 | Walleye | 560 | – | report |
| October 4, 2017 | Walleye | 626 | – | report |
| October 27, 2016 | Walleye | 560 | – | report |
| June 4, 2015 | Walleye | 7,000 | – | report |
| May 22, 2012 | Walleye | 7,513 | – | report |
| June 2, 2011 | Walleye | 20,261 | – | report |
| September 27, 2005 | Channel Catfish | 8,763 | – | report |
| September 29, 2004 | Channel Catfish | 6,538 | – | report |
| September 24, 2003 | Channel Catfish | 3,509 | – | report |
| September 25, 2002 | Channel Catfish | 10,002 | – | report |
| September 26, 2001 | Channel Catfish | 3,504 | – | report |
| September 27, 2000 | Channel Catfish | 7,008 | – | report |
| October 5, 1999 | Channel Catfish | 5,900 | – | report |
| October 7, 1998 | Channel Catfish | 2,554 | – | report |
| September 25, 1997 | Channel Catfish | 7,010 | – | report |
| October 17, 1990 | Rainbow Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| October 3, 1990 | Brown Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| April 18, 1990 | Rainbow Trout | 2,747 | – | report |
| March 27, 1990 | Channel Catfish | 11,744 | – | report |
| June 5, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 2,750 | – | report |
| April 7, 1989 | Channel Catfish | 4,200 | – | report |
| October 17, 1988 | Brown Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| September 7, 1988 | Channel Catfish | 8,400 | – | report |
| May 9, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 2,750 | – | report |
| October 14, 1987 | Brown Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| May 4, 1987 | Rainbow Trout | 2,750 | – | report |
| November 9, 1986 | Brown Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| September 23, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
| May 14, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 2,750 | – | report |
| May 7, 1986 | Brown Trout | 200 | – | report |
| May 7, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 200 | – | report |
| September 30, 1985 | Brown Trout | 5,000 | – | report |
| April 26, 1985 | Walleye | 1,500,000 | – | report |
| April 15, 1985 | Rainbow Trout | 5,500 | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Ionia
- Facilities
- restrooms, dock, camping
Inside Ionia Recreation Area, north off David Hwy between Saranac and Ionia. The accessible boating access site (second right inside the park) has 2 paved launch lanes, a pier, a vault toilet and about 25 trailer spots. An accessible fishing pier sits in Point Picnic Area.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.
About Sessions Lake
Nearest lakes
Public land at Sessions Lake
Sessions Lake is inside Ionia State Recreation Area.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Sessions Lake?
Fishing Sessions Lake usually means Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish accounts for 12 of 38 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and 2 more. Channel Catfish was last stocked September 27, 2005. Walleye was last stocked November 6, 2025. Rainbow Trout was last stocked October 17, 1990. Brown Trout was last stocked October 3, 1990. Bluegill, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Sessions Lake stocked?
Last stocked November 6, 2025. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 1985, most often in September and October. No plants recorded in 17 years between 1985 and 2025.
How do you get on Sessions Lake?
The nearest town is Ionia. Facilities include restrooms, dock, and camping. Inside Ionia Recreation Area, north off David Hwy between Saranac and Ionia. The accessible boating access site (second right inside the park) has 2 paved launch lanes, a pier, a vault toilet and about 25 trailer spots. An accessible fishing pier sits in Point Picnic Area.