Deadmans Lake near Mancelona: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Deadmans Lake belongs to Crawford County, Michigan. It sits in lake country bush. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Crawford County standards. Mancelona lies 9.8 miles from the water. Kalkaska lies 12 miles off, Grayling another 14 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Deadmans Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Crawford County names white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Deadmans Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 67°F for July and 18°F for January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Anyone fishing Deadmans Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. The nearest recorded ramp is Papoose Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. This sits inside Papoose Lake Nature Sanctuary, so read the reserve notices first. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Papoose Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Deadmans Lake.