Carroll Lake Fishing Guide, Van Buren County, Michigan

• Overview

  Carroll Lake falls in Van Buren County, part of Michigan. The surface lies 712 feet up. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Van Buren County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 4.4 miles away sits Bangor, the nearest settlement. For a city, South Bend is 40 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Carroll Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Van Buren County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and pink salmon among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Carroll Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Carroll Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Hillocher Lake is 0.2 miles distant. The position on Carroll Lake is worth confirming on the day.