Fishing at Christie Lake, Van Buren County, Michigan

• Overview

  Christie Lake falls in Van Buren County, part of Michigan. Height above sea level is 755 feet. At about 239 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 3.2 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. On our Van Buren County list it sits near the top for size. Nearest place of any size is Decatur, 4.8 miles away. For a city, South Bend is 36 miles off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Christie Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Van Buren County include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and pink salmon. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Christie Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 23°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. Open water usually runs from late March until about late December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Christie Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Popendick Lake is 1.7 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Christie Lake.