Hardy Dam Pond Fishing
A 2,775-acre Michigan pond in Newaygo County.
Pick for muskellungePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Muskegon River: Phillip Hofmeister, CC BY-SA 4.0
An overview of Hardy Dam Pond
At 2,775 acres, Hardy Dam Pond ranks as a pond of Newaygo County. Morley sits about 8 miles from the water. Fisheries work here falls to the MDNR Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, on the Lower Peninsula. Set in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion, it feeds the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan basin.
Fish on file for it include muskellunge. 2 public launches put boats on the water. Water clarity ran about 9.7 feet in 2023, from satellite data.
For the muskellunge herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Species on record for Hardy Dam Pond
Fish documented by the MDNR at Hardy Dam Pond, linked where Michigan has a species page.
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Boat access to Hardy Dam Pond
- Sandy Beach County Park3 lanes, 66 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet; Newaygo County
- Newaygo State Park1 lane, 70 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Newaygo State Park
Boat access sites near Hardy Dam Pond
- Brower Park MarinaMuskegon River, 4 miles northeast
- Pine Street Boat AccessMuskegon River, 7 miles southwest
- 131 Bridge Boat AccessMuskegon River, 9 miles northeast
- Bills Lake Boat AccessBills Lake, 9 miles south
- High Rollway Thornapple Boat AccessMuskegon River, 9 miles southwest
- Rogers Pond Boat AccessRogers Dam Pond, 10 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Hardy Dam Pond Secchi depth by year
Bars show the summer satellite clarity of Hardy Dam Pond, year by year.
For 2023, chlorophyll a came to 5.46 micrograms per liter.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
The regulations that cover Hardy Dam Pond
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
Statewide inland rules for the Lower Peninsula govern Hardy Dam Pond.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Stocking events at Hardy Dam Pond
Hardy Dam Pond took 3,998 fish over 1 plants from 2024 through 2024, led by muskellunge.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 6, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 22.2 in | 3,998 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Registered tournaments on Hardy Dam Pond
Registrations and results on Hardy Dam Pond have a page of their own.
A comparison table for Hardy Dam Pond
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy Dam Pond | 2,775 | 2 | 9.7 | 1 | |
| Bills Lake | 9 miles south | 200 | 1 | 11.2 | 0 |
| Rogers Dam Pond | 10 miles northeast | 338 | 1 | 8.6 | 0 |
| Brooks Lake, Newaygo County | 11 miles southwest | 287 | 1 | 3.4 | 0 |
| Pickerel Lake near Newaygo, Newaygo County | 11 miles west | 308 | 1 | 12.2 | 1 |
| Little Whitefish Lake | 11 miles south | 180 | 1 | 10.7 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Places around Hardy Dam Pond
Other lakes a short drive from Hardy Dam Pond
- Bills Lake9 miles south
- Rogers Dam Pond10 miles northeast
- Brooks Lake, Newaygo County11 miles southwest
- Pickerel Lake near Newaygo, Newaygo County11 miles west
- Little Whitefish Lake11 miles south
Bait and tackle counters by Hardy Dam Pond
- All Marine Servicemarina, Newaygo, 4 miles
- The Dam Toy Storemarina, Big Rapids, 11 miles
- Parsley's Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Newaygo, 12 miles
- Trigger Time Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Big Rapids, 12 miles
- Muskegon River Fly Shopfly shop, Newaygo, 12 miles
- Copper Harbor State Marinamarina, Grant, 17 miles
A guided day on Hardy Dam Pond
- Iceberg's River Guide Servicecharter, Grant, (231) 834-8177
- Raptor Charterscharter, Barryton, (989) 382-5878
- West Michigan Guide Servicecharter, Newaygo, (231) 250-2375
- Betts Guide Servicefishing guide, Newaygo, (231) 519-7348
Michigan towns a short drive from Hardy Dam Pond
- Morley8 miles
- White Cloud9 miles
- Stanwood9 miles
Hardy Dam Pond, county by county
- Newaygo Countyseat: White Cloud
What Piscifun sells for Hardy Dam Pond anglers
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Water around Hardy Dam Pond as the camera saw it
Photo: Mojnsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: bigmikesndtech, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michiganguy123, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing Hardy Dam Pond: quick answers
Where would I find Hardy Dam Pond on a Michigan map?
Look in Newaygo County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 8 miles from Morley.
How big is Hardy Dam Pond on the state lake layer?
Roughly 2,775 acres.
Which ramp should a trailer use on Hardy Dam Pond?
Start at Sandy Beach County Park, one of 2 public launches.
What fish live in Hardy Dam Pond?
On file: muskellunge.
Does the digest list special rules for Hardy Dam Pond?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Does Michigan sell a trout stamp for Hardy Dam Pond?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
What does satellite data say about Hardy Dam Pond clarity?
Close to 9.7 feet in 2023.
Who has minnows on the drive to Hardy Dam Pond?
Drive about 4 miles to All Marine Service.
What has the MDNR planted in Hardy Dam Pond?
2024 plants: 3,998 muskellunge.
Circle Hardy Dam Pond on the calendar
Read the posted rules before keeping fish.