Fishing at Baker Lake, Montcalm County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Montcalm County end of Michigan holds Baker Lake. The land about it is rolling bush. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Montcalm County standards. The nearest place of any size is Stanton, 5.4 miles away. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 37 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Baker Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Montcalm County: bluegill, largemouth bass, white sucker and johnny darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Baker Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 21°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Baker Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Holland Lake is 1.1 miles off. Confirm before you fish Baker Lake.