The Ryerson Lake Association
The Lake Association consists of residents that own properties around the lake, which includes Camp Echo. Your $25 per year dues pay to maintain the boat launch, stock fish, half of the cost of the July 4th fireworks (the other half by Camp Echo) and this website.
Everyone on the lake benefits from what the association does, so please encourage your neighbors to join.
Association members are encouraged to post photographs, lost and found and calendar events on our website.
Lake History
The Summer Resort that Started on a Shoe String Budget
Written by Mrs. Fred (Bertha) Coburn
About the Lake
The bottom of Ryerson Lake was first mapped in the early 1940s by the Michigan Conservation Department. The lake has a surface area of 250 acres and a watershed area of 3,847 acres, a ratio of 1:15.4. The maximum recorded depth of the lake is 82 feet, and the average depth of Ryerson Lake is 27 feet. Despite having large areas of deep water, Ryerson Lake also contains shallow sand and marl areas. These shallow areas support aquatic plants and provide quality hapitat for fish and wildlife. The shoreline of Ryerson Lake is over four miles long, and there are four small tributaries flow into Ryerson Lake.
Ryerson Lake’s outlet at the south end flows to Ludke Drain, through Kimball and Pickerel Lakes, and into Penoyer Creek which, in turn, flows into the Muskegon River and into Lake Michigan. There are approximately 230 feet of fall between Ryerson Lake and Lake Michigan.
Boating Rules
Operating Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
No Wake All Other Hours
Travel in a Counter-Clockwise Direction
All Watercraft Must Obey These and all Other State Laws
Fishing
Please remember NOT to fish on spawning beds for any type of fish. This will help improve our lake for fishing if we adhere to this request. Please remind any guests that you have invited to fish with you.
Beach Sand Regulations
Please keep in mind that you need to get a permit from the Newaygo County Drain Commissioner. To put sand in the lake, you need to get a permit from the Michigan DEQ.