Fishing at Big Williams Lake, Ogemaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Ogemaw County entry here is Big Williams Lake, in Michigan. What surrounds it is lake country bush. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest town is Skidway Lake, 10 miles away. For a city, Lansing is 114 miles off. Also within reach: King Lake 0.6 miles, Arrowhead Lake about 0.6 miles, Little Norway Lake 0.7 miles, Little Williams Lake about 0.7 miles and Fish Lake 0.8 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Big Williams Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Big Williams Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 68°F; the cold one sits at 18°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The water is typically free of ice between early April and early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Big Williams Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, King Lake is 0.6 miles off. Signs at Big Williams Lake carry more weight than any list.