Fishing Clifford Lake in Otsego County, Michigan

• Overview

  Clifford Lake sits in Otsego County, out in Michigan. It sits at 1,234 feet above sea level. At roughly 14 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, Gaylord sits 1.9 miles out. Then Lewiston, 19 miles, and Mancelona, 23 miles. Within easy reach: Kassuba Lake 1.2 miles away, O'Rourke Lake some 1.5 miles off, McCoy Lake 1.7 miles away, Dixon Lake some 2.3 miles off and Big Lake 2.9 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Clifford Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Otsego County records list rock bass, white sucker and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Treat Clifford Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 17°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Clifford Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Kassuba Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Clifford Lake if anything is unclear.