Welcome to Henderson Lake in Lupton, Michigan

Website for Residents & Property Owners at this Wonderful Place

Loon Report: The ice left the lake in the last few days of March this year and a loon pair was heard and seen on the water in the days immediately thereafter.  The loons did nest; however, no new chicks were observed this year. A number of factors may have influenced the 2026 outcome, including an unseasonably cold spring, disturbance by predators, and other causes.  Nevertheless, their effort continued a long tradition of loons nesting on Henerson Lake. Both adults (and frequent loon visitors) have been on the lake all summer and loons are still observed fishing, feeding, and calling all around the lake. Please caution your guests to always stay at least several hundred feet away from the loons.

Winterfest Ice Fishing Tournament / Fundraiser: This winter’s event (February 14, 2026) was very well attended by over 100 folks.  The tent was set up at Pauley Park again as this is simply a convenient, accessible location.  There were 17 anglers on the ice, including three youths.  With fishing registrations and many raffle items generously donated by property owners and local businesses, the event netted $4,610 for purchase of fish stock. 

The 2026 Bass and Pike Fishing Tournaments / Fundraisers: The Bass Tournament was Saturday, June 13, with 24 adults and 5 youths participating.  It netted $636 after the 50/50 raffle payout.  The Pike Tournament was August 8 with nine adults and no youth participating.  It netted $270 after the 50/50 raffle payout.  The total raised from Winterfest and these two tournaments is $5,516 which will be used to purchase fish stock for Henderson Lake.  Stocking expenses continue to rise, with prices ranging from $3-$5 per fish depending on species and length; therefore, all families are still encouraged to make a $40/family donation as described below.

August 30, 2026                                                                                                                                                     Bill Olsen, Bob Blohm, and Mike Kujawa, Editors

Lake Health Management:  The Special Assessment District (SAD), which provides funding for aquatic management of our lake, has been renewed by both Township Boards (Cumming and Hill).  This renewal will appear on December Winter Tax bills starting in 2026 and running through 2035, therefore covering the 2027 through 2036 treatment seasons.  The assessed monetary amount and technical content of the SAD did not change.  The overall health of Henderson Lake is A-Rated in large part because of funding from the SAD.  Invasive species of weeds (Eurasian Water Milfoil, Starry Stonewort, Curly Leaf Pondweed, etc.) found anywhere in the lake, and nuisance weeds only along the developed shoreline out to five feet of water depth are being treated.  Please see HendersonLake.org for downloadable copies of all the various reports and studies.  

​Looking Ahead: Both the Fishing Club and Milfoil Control Committee have had recent, preliminary conversations about the need to schedule updates of the BioBase weed mapping effort, along with the Rake-Toss sampling of the lake’s aquatic plants (both last conducted in 2017); and the Fish Sampling Study (last conducted in 2020).  The purpose of these updates is to provide current information about both the flora and fauna of the lake, so that informed decisions can be made to guide management efforts of the lake in the future. 

A current assessment of Henderson Lake’s aquatic plant community is important for several reasons. One is effective weed control, which is critical for our lake.  An up-to-date understanding of weed growth locations, densities, and species will help us achieve a balance between controlling nuisance weeds and making sure healthy aquatic habitats are still available for our Henderson Lake fish.  

Regarding our Henderson Lake fish community, information gathered in a future Fish Sampling Study will help guide us in determining what are the best fisheries management options for the lake. The previous study in 2020 indicated that our fish community was diverse, growing well, and healthy, but there were some areas of concern.  Since 2020, changes in the distribution and abundance of aquatic fish habitat, and the results of our fish plantings, among other factors, have likely had an impact on the distribution and abundance of fish species in our lake.

A follow-up fish study, in conjunction with a new assessment of the lake’s aquatic plants, will help us in our ongoing efforts to control the invasive weeds situation and guide us in our fish stocking program.  It will also provide some insight into what other actions we can take to maintain a healthy balance among the different species of fish in the lake that will contribute to a good sport fishery for us in the future.

If you haven’t already done so, please read the reports that summarize the results of the previous studies mentioned above. They can be found at HendersonLake.org. We will keep you informed as the discussions to update these studies continue, including a reasonable timeline and how to secure funding to cover their costs.

Mike Kujawa, 468 3rd Street, Lupton, MI 48635
Make all checks payable to HENDERSON LAKE FISHING CLUB

Basic Family Donation $40.00 (More is always welcome!)

  • Practice CATCH AND RELEASE!  Please don't keep all that you catch.
  • Please do not blow grass clippings or fall leaves into the lake.They add to the vegetation load which the Weed Control Program is in-part trying to combat.
  • Keep a rake-by-the-lake to remove / clean-up weeds that wash ashore.  Milfoil spreads by fragmentation, so get weed fragments away from the water.

Download past issues of the HLFC Newsletter


2026       20 gallons of Golden Shiners. The fall planting is currently being planned.
2025       20 gallons of Golder Shiners, 675 Yellow Perch (5-7”), 575 Walleye (5-8”)
2024       30 gallons Fat Head Minnows, 1000 Black Crappie (4-7”), 624 Walleye (5-8”)
2023       300 Bass (6-10”), 400 Black Crappie (4-6”), 400 Walleye (5-8”), and 25 gallons of Fat Head Minnows
2022       30 gallons Fat Head Minnows, 1,000 Walleye (6-8”)
2021       1050 Black Crappie (4-6”), 200 Largemouth Bass (5-8”), 15 Walleye (6-8”)
2020       4.5 gallons of Fat Head Minnows, conducted Northpoint Fisheries survey, fall planting of 1,155 Walleye (6-8”)
2019      725 Perch (4-6”), 1100 Hybrid Bluegills (3-5”), 200 Walleye (4-6”) and 29 gallons of Fat Head Minnows
2018      740 Hybrid Bluegills (5-7"), 6 gallons of Fat Head Minnows, 600 Black Crappie (4-5”), 400 Perch (4-6”)
2017      950 Large Mouth Bass (5-8”), 100 Walleye (6-9”), 300 Black Crappie (3-4”), 3 gallons of Fat Head Minnows

HENDERSON LAKE NEWSLETTERS


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Henderson Lake Fishing Club and Volunteers:
Mike Kujawa, President, Roger Elkins, Frank Kujawa, Bonnie & Dave Skornia, Dave Attenberger, Bruce Grabarkiewicz, Bob Blohm, Bill Olsen​​​