Crawford Lake Fishing in Kent County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Crawford Lake falls inside Kent County. It sits at 863 feet above sea level. With some 31 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Roughly 1.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. The town to know is Greenville, 7.3 miles out. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 21 miles distant. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Crawford Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Kent County include bluegill, rock bass, johnny darter and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Crawford Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 21°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Crawford Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Sandbottom Lake is 0.5 miles distant. For Crawford Lake in particular, ask before you travel.