Deer Lake Fishing Guide, Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  Deer Lake lies within the bounds of Benzie County, Michigan. It sits at 604 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Benzie County. Supplies mean a trip to Frankfort, 11 miles off. Greilickville lies 21 miles off, Traverse City another 22 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Benzie County names yellow perch, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Deer Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 21°F to 68°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It sets the rhythm of the year at Deer Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Bass Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Signs at Deer Lake carry more weight than any list.