Blue Lake near Mancelona: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Crawford County end of Michigan holds Blue Lake. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 114 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.9 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is among the larger waters listed here for Crawford County. The nearest place of any size is Mancelona, 10 miles away. Beyond it, Grayling at 13 miles and Kalkaska at 15 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Crawford County: white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Blue Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Expect Blue Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Little Blue Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Blue Lake before loading the car.