By most accounts, fishing on Bills Lake is very good. Residents have only to look out their windows --- regardless of the season --- to witness plenty of activity (see pictures). On the other hand, there are those old-timers who grouse about the fact that fishing in our waters “ain’t what it used to be.” There are also those who have remarkably good luck pulling fish out of our lake but don’t want the general public to know; therefore, they downplay their successes. Believe it or not (gasp!), some fishermen lie.

 The lake is filled with walleye, and for good reason if one views documents which the Department of Natural Resources provides with regard to the stocking of fish in Bills Lake. The prevailing opinion among locals is that Bills Lake is the second most stocked lake in Newaygo County (behind only Fremont Lake).

 For instance, according to DNR records found on the Internet, 5,878 inch-long walleyes were planted in Bills Lake on June 14, 2005. 20,529 of them were planted on May 28, 2003. 20,400 were planted on June 6, 2000. 28,702 were planted on or about June 2, 1998. 11,852 were planted on June 12, 1997. 43,338 were planted on June 8, 1995. More details can be obtained by clicking here.

 More to the point, some of them have survived and gotten big, if you believe the success stories that have come from various anglers. However, they will not tell you when or where or how they caught the big ones.

Above are 25.5 inch and 21.5 inch walleyes caught by Dan Deschaine (left) and his brother Ed in Bills Lake in May 2006. Dan lives in the Geronimo 1 zone. His father Jerry, also a Bills Lake resident, used to be chairman of MUCC's District 12.

According to that same DNR Web site, Bills Lake plays host not only to walleye but also to black crappie, bluegill, both largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, sunfish, and yellow perch. Occasionally, a splake (a hybrid of brook and rainbow trout which is non-reproducing) is caught. After all, rainbow trout were planted in Bills Lake from 1981-84.

 To provide more information and/or pictures, please contact Ed Waits