Black Lake Fishing in Mason County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mason County, Michigan, is where Black Lake sits. It sits in mixed forest country. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Mason County standards. For a base, Manistee sits 11 miles out. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 86 miles distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Mason County records list rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and johnny darter among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Black Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 21°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Black Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Hoags Lake, 2.2 miles away. The position on Black Lake is worth confirming on the day.