Fishing at Beals Lake, Antrim County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Antrim County entry here is Beals Lake, in Michigan. The surface lies 604 feet up. Roughly 41 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 1.0 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Ground here is low by Michigan standards. Bellaire lies 6.1 miles from the water. For a city, Green Bay is 145 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Beals Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. 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. Take Beals Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 68°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Beals Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Scotts Lake is 0.7 miles off. Nothing on Beals Lake should be assumed from this page alone.