Fishing Burns Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan

• Overview

  Burns Lake belongs to Muskegon County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 676 feet. Small at around 24 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Michigan listings. Twin Lake is the closest place, 2.4 miles off. It is 39 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Burns Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Muskegon County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Burns Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Burns Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping shows a campsite some 0.9 miles from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Hart Lake is 0.3 miles off. Treat Burns Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.