Bass Lake near Mancelona: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Crawford County, Bass Lake is a Michigan water. The bank is 1,204 feet above sea level. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 1.4 miles in total. 11 miles away sits Mancelona, the nearest town. It is 133 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Crawford County names white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Bass Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 17°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Bass Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Little Blue Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Check the position on Bass Lake before loading the car.