Black Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Benzie County, Michigan, this is Black Lake. The bank is 876 feet above sea level. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Benzie County are larger. The nearest place of any size is Greilickville, 12 miles away. Further out sit Traverse City (12 miles) and Frankfort (20 miles). The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Benzie County: 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. At Black Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Black Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Stevens Lake Boat Launch is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Stevens Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Black Lake in what we hold.