Fishing Bell Lake in Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Benzie County, Michigan, sits Bell Lake. What surrounds it is pine and birch. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Benzie County standards. Greilickville at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. Green Bay is the closest city, 106 miles away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Bell Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Bell Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 20°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Bell Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Bronson Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. What applies at Bell Lake may have changed since it was mapped.