Bryan Lake Fishing Guide, Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Benzie County end of Michigan holds Bryan Lake. Height above sea level is 787 feet. At 20 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Greilickville lies 11 miles from the water. The big place round here is Green Bay, 107 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water. It sits far enough from the road to feel away from things.

• Where to Fish on Bryan Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Benzie County list yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Bryan Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 68°F, the coldest about 20°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Bryan Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Launching is at Lake Ann Boat Launch, about 0.9 miles away. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lake View, 0.7 miles out. What applies at Bryan Lake may have changed since it was mapped.