Benzie County · Michigan

Lower Herring Lake

Soundings in feet · 450 acres · deepest 50 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:11 am EDT. Get alerts for Lower Herring Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 46°F, wind SW 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 64°F, wind NW 0 to 5 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 5 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESLower Herring Lake: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

3 contours, 5 to 50 ft

053050feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

450 acres · deepest 50 ft (measured) · shoreline about 4.1 mi · clarity about 13 ft

Lower Herring Lake is the 6th largest of the 38 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Benzie County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 5th deepest of the 15 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 19 of the other 36 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 4.1 miles along the state outline. About 68% of its area is deeper than 30 ft.

Ranks against Benzie County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Lower Herring Lake.

Lower Herring Lake · Open

1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Benzie County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Lower Herring Lake 20 times since 1990. The most recent stocking was 24,752 walleye on 25 June 2025. Species stocked: walleye.

20 stockings, 1990 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 25 Jun 2025: 24,752 walleye.

25 Jun 2025STOCKED24,752 walleye

24 Jun 2022STOCKED16,168 walleye

31 May 2018STOCKED15,990 walleye

3 Jun 2015STOCKED16,138 walleye

12 Jun 2012STOCKED22,428 walleye

25 Jun 2008STOCKED25,066 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1955: black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, common shiner, creek chub, emerald shiner, iowa darter, johnny darter, mimic shiner, northern logperch, northern longear sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, sand shiner, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, trout-perch, walleye, western banded killifish, white bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 13 ft (Secchi depth 3.9 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 12.9 ft of 50 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Lower Herring LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Lower Herring Lake 20 times since 1990, most recently 24,752 walleye on 25 June 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 24 Sep.Any lake in Benzie CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 2 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Lower Herring Lake: 24 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Upper Herring Lake25 ft deep · 1.7 mi · Benzie County

Crystal Lake175 ft deep · 7.4 mi · Benzie County

Bear Lake6 ft deep · 9.5 mi · Manistee County

Platte Lake90 ft deep · 10.6 mi · Benzie County

Little Platte Lake8 ft deep · 12.3 mi · Benzie County

James Lake47 ft deep · 13.5 mi · Manistee County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Lower Herring Lake?

Lower Herring Lake is 50 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 450 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Lower Herring Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Lower Herring Lake.

Is Lower Herring Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 20 times since 1990, most recently 24,752 walleye on 25 June 2025.