Benny Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Luce County, Michigan, is where Benny Lake sits. It lies 850 feet above sea level. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Newberry at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Green Bay is 173 miles off. Also on the doorstep: Dude Lake about 0.4 miles, Becks Lake 0.4 miles away, Peter Lake about 0.5 miles, Smith Lake 0.6 miles away and Syphon Lake about 0.9 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Benny Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Luce County include yellow perch, white sucker, walleye and pink salmon. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Benny Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 16°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Benny Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Dude Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Benny Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.