Fishing at Barneys Lake, Charlevoix County, Michigan

• Overview

  Barneys Lake is a Charlevoix County water, in Michigan. The bank is 597 feet above sea level. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It is low-lying compared with other Michigan water we list. Charlevoix is the closest town at 31 miles. The big place round here is Green Bay, 145 miles distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Barneys Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Charlevoix County: rainbow smelt, alewife and shortjaw cisco. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Barneys Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 20°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Barneys Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Parking is at Barney's Lake Nature Preserve Parking, some half a mile off. Barney's Lake Nature Preserve covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Round Lake, 1.4 miles away. For Barneys Lake in particular, ask before you travel.