Blue Lake Fishing Guide, Mecosta County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Blue Lake in the Mecosta County part of Michigan. Height above sea level is 955 feet. The water covers some 234 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.7 miles in total. Few waters listed in Mecosta County are bigger. The closest town, Canadian Lakes, is 2.9 miles distant. For a city, Grand Rapids is 49 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Mecosta County: bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, black crappie and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Blue Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 69°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Blue Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Round Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Blue Lake carry more weight than any list.