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Muskegon River 41 mi
Photo: Phillip Hofmeister, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Muskegon Lake 28 mi
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Muskegon County 27 mi
Photo: bigmikesndtech, CC BY 2.0 
White Lake near Whitehall, Muskegon County 30 mi
Photo: Michiganguy123, CC BY-SA 4.0
Michigan inland lakes
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Hess Lake, Newaygo County Fishing
A 765-acre Michigan lake in Newaygo County.
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Newaygo County
Meet Hess Lake, Newaygo County
Plan on 765 acres of open lake at Hess Lake, Newaygo County in Newaygo County. Newaygo is the closest town on the Census list, around 3 miles away. The MDNR handles it from the Central Lake Michigan unit; it is a Lower Peninsula water. The lake lies in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion and the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan basin.
Recent MDNR records show black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow and largemouth bass. MDNR access data map 1 public launch. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 1.9 feet in 2023.
765acres
1public launches
1.9 ftsatellite clarity
9fish on record
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Fish the MDNR has found in Hess Lake, Newaygo County
The species chips for Hess Lake, Newaygo County draw on the MDNR Fish Atlas, its fishing site lists and stocking logs.
Black bullhead Black crappie Bluegill Bluntnose minnow Fathead minnow Largemouth bass Pumpkinseed Yellow bullhead Yellow perch
Fish Atlas collections at Hess Lake, Newaygo County by species
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 11 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Pumpkinseed | 10 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Bluegill | 9 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 9 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Yellow perch | 7 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Yellow bullhead | 4 | 1926 to 1997 |
| Black crappie | 2 | 1953 to 1997 |
| Black bullhead | 1 | 1997 |
| Fathead minnow | 1 | 1997 |
| Blackchin shiner | 8 | 1926 to 1953 |
| Iowa darter | 5 | 1926 to 1953 |
| Rock bass | 5 | 1926 to 1953 |
| Brook silverside | 3 | 1934 to 1953 |
| Northern pike | 3 | 1926 to 1953 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launches
Ramps serving Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Hess Lake Boat Access1 lane, 12 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Newaygo State Park
More launches around Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Brooks Lake Boat Access near NewaygoBrooks Lake, 1 mile north
- Henning ParkMuskegon River, 3 miles northwest
- High Rollway Thornapple Boat AccessMuskegon River, 3 miles northeast
- New Bridge Boat AccessMuskegon River, 3 miles northwest
- Anderson Flats Boat AccessMuskegon River, 3 miles west
- Ransom Lake Boat AccessRansom Lake, 4 miles southeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
Water clarity at Hess Lake, Newaygo County
Satellite Secchi depth for Hess Lake, Newaygo County comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 24.01 micrograms per liter in 2023.
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.
Regulations
Keeper rules posted for Hess Lake, Newaygo County
| 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 |
Hess Lake, Newaygo County follows the statewide inland table for the Lower Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Compare
Hess Lake, Newaygo County next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess Lake, Newaygo County | 765 | 1 | 1.9 | 9 | |
| Brooks Lake, Newaygo County | 1 mile northeast | 287 | 1 | 3.4 | 0 |
| Blanch Lake | 4 miles southwest | 44 | 0 | 8.8 | 4 |
| Ransom Lake, Newaygo County | 4 miles southeast | 34 | 1 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Bills Lake | 5 miles east | 200 | 1 | 11.2 | 0 |
| Pickerel Lake near Newaygo, Newaygo County | 5 miles northwest | 308 | 1 | 12.2 | 1 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
Near Hess Lake, Newaygo County
Nearby inland lakes for a Hess Lake, Newaygo County trip
- Brooks Lake, Newaygo County1 mile northeast
- Blanch Lake4 miles southwest
- Ransom Lake, Newaygo County4 miles southeast
- Bills Lake5 miles east
- Pickerel Lake near Newaygo, Newaygo County5 miles northwest
Tackle stores within a drive of Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Muskegon River Fly Shopfly shop, Newaygo, 2 miles
- Parsley's Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Newaygo, 3 miles
- Copper Harbor State Marinamarina, Grant, 5 miles
- All Marine Servicemarina, Newaygo, 8 miles
- Chucks Boat Marina (No Rentals)marina, Fremont, 12 miles
- Sparta Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Sparta, 16 miles
Hiring a guide for Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Iceberg's River Guide Servicecharter, Grant, (231) 834-8177
- West Michigan Guide Servicecharter, Newaygo, (231) 250-2375
- steelheadcharterscharter, Muskegon, (231) 329-2117
- Betts Guide Servicefishing guide, Newaygo, (231) 519-7348
Places to stay around Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Newaygo3 miles
- Grant4 miles
- Casnovia11 miles
County fishing pages for Hess Lake, Newaygo County
- Newaygo Countyseat: White Cloud
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Photographs
Lakes and streams near Hess Lake, Newaygo County, pictured
Photo: Phillip Hofmeister, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: bigmikesndtech, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michiganguy123, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers
The usual questions about Hess Lake, Newaygo County
How far is Hess Lake, Newaygo County from a Michigan town?
It lies in Newaygo County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 3 miles from Newaygo.
How large is Hess Lake, Newaygo County?
765 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Hess Lake, Newaygo County?
There are 1 public launch; Hess Lake Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Hess Lake, Newaygo County?
The MDNR names black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed.
What are the keeper rules for Hess Lake, Newaygo County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Which Michigan license covers Hess Lake, Newaygo County?
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.
Is Hess Lake, Newaygo County a clear lake?
Roughly 1.9 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Hess Lake, Newaygo County anglers pick up worms?
Muskegon River Fly Shop, about 2 miles away.
Put Hess Lake, Newaygo County on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.