There are approximately 79 lakes in Genesee County ranging in size from the tiny Atlas Mill Pond to sprawling Lake Fenton and Holloway Reservoir. The majority are private or have restricted access, unavailable to traveling fisherman or landlocked anglers; however, the public lakes provide a good variety and bounty of fish to make every trip worthwhile.
Here is a rundown of public lakes in (and around) Genesee County and what they offer.
Buell Lake
Location: 10 miles NE of Flint in Thetford Township off Genesee Rd.
Depth: 47 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (Buell Lake County Park), two floating fishing piers, and shoreline fishing.
Game: Buell Lake provides a variety of game and pan fish breeds with bluegill and largemouth bass making up nearly 95% of all stock. Other fish found in Buell Lake include black crappie, bullhead, carp, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, walleye and northern pike.
Holloway Reservoir
Location: 7 miles NE of Flint in Richfield Township off Stanley Rd.
Depth: 14 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (Holloway Reservoir Regional Park), one floating fishing pier, and shoreline fishing.
Game: Holloway Reservoir was created with the construction of the Holloway Dam in 1955 as a source of freshwater for the city of Flint. Today it is used almost solely for recreation. Catfish, walleye and black crappie comprise 57% of the fish varieties in the reservoir. Fishermen will also find a good number of carp, bluegill, small and largemouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch and northern pike.
Kearsley Reservoir
Location: Approx. One mile NE of Flint off Western Rd.
Depth: 15 ft. (Max.)
Access: One floating fishing pier (Branch-Carr Park) and shoreline fishing.
Game: The Kearsley Reservoir was created in 1929 for Flint ice supply. The lake is now used for recreation and holds a small variety of fish including bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. Bluegill make up nearly 50% of all fish in Kearsley Reservoir.
Lake Fenton
Location: Fenton Township just south of N. Long Lake Rd.
Depth: 90 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off of Grove Park Rd.)
Game: The largest lake in Genesee County, Lake Fenton is a hotspot for summer fun and activity. It is recommended to be on the waters early before recreation enthusiasts hit the water. Anglers can expect to find black crappie, sunfish, bluegill, yellow perch, suckers, small and largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike in its waters.
Lake Ponemah
Location: 20 minutes south of Flint in Fenton Township
Depth: 77 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off Eastview Dr.)
Game: Lake Ponemah connects two other lakes, Aanikegamaa Lake and Tupper Lake. The Shiawassee River runs through the lake bringing a wide array of game with it. Anglers on Lake Ponemah will catch their fair share of black crappie, multiple varieties of sunfish, yellow perch, small and largemouth bass, suckers, walleye and northern pike.
Lobdell Lake (and Bennett Lake)
Location: Southern end of Argentine Township
Depth: 78 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off of Seymour Rd.)
Game: Lobdell connects to Bennett Lake in Livingston County and fishermen can enjoy both from the Lobdell Lake access point. The lakes hold a variety of panfish and predators such as sunfish, yellow perch, black crappie, grass pickerel, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Mott Lake
Location: One mile NE of Flint off Genesee Rd.
Depth: 18 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (James Bassett Dr., west of Genesee Rd.), one small craft boat launch (off Stanley Rd.), four floating fishing piers, and shoreline fishing.
Game: Mott Lake was created in 1972 for public recreation with the construction of the Mott Dam. The lake has been stocked with a variety of fish throughout the years, last stocked in the late 90s. Catfish, bluegill and walleye makeup 87% of all fish in Mott Lake at last DNR count. Anglers can also find smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, black crappie, sunfish, bullhead and northern pike.
Otter Lake
Location: NE corner of Genesee County in Forest Township
Depth: 117 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off of Genesee Ave.)
Game: Potentially the deepest little lake in Genesee County, Otter Lake is known to be a fun fishing spot for all ages. Bluegill make up 78% of the fish but skilled anglers can easily find black crappie, largemouth bass, bullhead, northern pike and warmouth.
Looking for a new experience? Here are four fish-heavy lakes located outside the confines of Genesee County.
Big Fish Lake
Location: Ortonville Recreation Area in Lapeer County just west of Davison Lake off Hadley Rd.
Depth: 70 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch and shoreline fishing (Big Fish Lake Park)
Game: Nearly 75% of the game is bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish. Black crappie, bullhead, grass pickerel, largemouth bass and northern pike round out the rest. Whether or not the lake lives up to its name remains to be seen. Why not give it a go and find out for yourself?
Davison Lake
Location: Southern end of Lapeer County just east of Big Fish Lake off W. Davison Lake Rd.
Depth: 67 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (Big Fish Lake Rd.)
Game: The Fish variety mirrors that of its neighbor Big Fish Lake in a much more private setting. Fishermen will hook a bevy of bluegill, sunfish, black crappie, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Lake Nepessing
Location: Elba Township in Lapeer County off Lake Nepessing Rd.
Depth: 25 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off of Hunt Rd.)
Game: A local favorite, home to the bowfin, one of the rarest fishes in Michigan. While hunting the rare fish, anglers will most likely catch bluegill and sunfish which make up almost 90% of the fish in Lake Nepessing. Others include rock bass, yellow perch, bullhead, black crappie, warmouth, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Murphy Lake
Location: 3 miles NE of Millington in the Murphy Lake State Game Area in Tuscola County
Depth: 41 ft. (Max.)
Access: One public boat launch (off Murphy Lake Rd.) and shoreline fishing
Game: Anglers will find black crappie, bluegill, sunfish, catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. Black crappie and bluegill make up nearly 82% of all fish in Murphy Lake.
