Fishing at Decker Ponds, Osceola County, Michigan

• Overview

  Decker Ponds falls in Osceola County, part of Michigan. Around the bank it is lake country bush. It covers about 8 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Evart sits 2.5 miles from the bank. For a city, Grand Rapids is 70 miles off. Nearby, in order: Spring Lake sits 0.4 miles out, Myrtle Lake lies 1.9 miles on, Shores Pond sits 2.1 miles out, Little Strawberry Lake lies 3.3 miles on and The Bayou sits 3.4 miles out. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Decker Ponds

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon, northern pike and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Decker Ponds should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 19°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. The season between ice runs from about early April to early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Decker Ponds.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. Mapping shows a campsite some 30 yards from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Spring Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Decker Ponds is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.