Bass Lake in Ogemaw County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bass Lake stands in Ogemaw County, Michigan. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Sand Lake, 16 miles out. The nearest city of size is Lansing, 120 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Ogemaw County cover bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon and largemouth bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Bass Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 17°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Bass Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is a slipway at Rifle Lake Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. The water borders Rifle Lake Public Access, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Rifle Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. For Bass Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.