Fishing Bass Lake in Otsego County, Michigan

• Overview

  Bass Lake lies within the bounds of Otsego County, Michigan. The surface lies 1,227 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest place of any size is Gaylord, 9.7 miles away. Lewiston is 16 miles away, with Grayling at 16 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Otsego County, recorded fish include rock bass, white sucker, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Bass Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bass Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bridge Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Bass Lake in particular, ask before you travel.