Austin Lake Fishing Guide, Kent County, Michigan

• Overview

  Austin Lake falls in Kent County, part of Michigan. The setting is lake country bush on every side. About 19 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Forest Hills, is 5.6 miles away. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 11 miles away. Nearby, in order: Hyser Lake at about 0.5 miles, Chase Lake 2.1 miles, Pickerel Lake at about 2.6 miles, Sunfish Lake 2.8 miles and Downs Lake at about 2.9 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Austin Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Kent County include bluegill, rock bass and johnny darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Austin Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 22°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Austin Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The mapped parking is Hyser Marsh Wildlife Observation Area Pakring, half a mile away. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Hyser Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Check the position on Austin Lake before loading the car.