Cranberry Lake in Mecosta County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Michigan, Cranberry Lake falls inside Mecosta County. The country here is lake country bush. The water measures roughly 14 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Big Rapids sits 5.8 miles from the bank. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 55 miles distant. Other water within reach: Hillsview Lake 0.9 miles away, Bergess Lake sits 1.5 miles out, Granger Lake 1.7 miles away, Haymarsh Lakes sits 2.2 miles out and Alma Lake 2.2 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Mecosta County include bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, black crappie and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Cranberry Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 69°F and January reads 19°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Cranberry Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Hillsview Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Cranberry Lake may have changed since it was mapped.