Bush Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Dickinson County, Bush Lake is a Michigan water. The bank gives way to pine and birch. Surface area is around 53 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Roughly 1.2 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Compared with other Michigan water on our list, it sits high. Crystal Falls lies 12 miles from the water. After that come Iron Mountain at 15 miles and Kingsford at 16 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Bush 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. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Dickinson County include bluegill, walleye, yellow perch and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Bush Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 11°F to 65°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Bush Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Tobey Lake is 1.8 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Bush Lake for certain.