Fishing Bass Lake in Antrim County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Antrim County, Michigan, sits Bass Lake. The ground around here is mixed forest. Around 144 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Bank access stretches around 1.9 miles in total. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Michigan listings. Start from Elk Rapids, 1.1 miles down the road. Rapid City is 7.5 miles and Bellaire 11 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Antrim County cover brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Bass Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Bass Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. The nearest recorded ramp is Kayak Launch, half a mile out. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Birch Lake at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Bass Lake as something to verify.