Croton Dam Pond near Newaygo: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Croton Dam Pond in Newaygo County, Michigan. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. Surface area runs to roughly 1,241 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. With 11 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Newaygo County listings. Newaygo is the closest place, 7.9 miles off. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 34 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Croton Dam Pond

  Depth on file is 40 ft. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records held for Newaygo County cover largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and johnny darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Croton Dam Pond the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 69°F at the top of summer and 21°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Croton Dam Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  It sits on public ground, so no permission beyond a licence is normally needed. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Pettit Lake is 3.3 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Croton Dam Pond.