Fishing at Dexter Lake, Calhoun County, Michigan

• Overview

  Dexter Lake is one of the Calhoun County waters in Michigan. Height above sea level is 853 feet. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Calhoun County are larger. Brownlee Park lies 0.8 miles from the water. Beyond it, Battle Creek at 2.5 miles and Lakeview at 4.3 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Dexter Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Calhoun County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Dexter Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in January up to 72°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Dexter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. There is a mapped landing stage 120 yards away. Someone has mapped a fishing spot half a mile off. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Hall Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Dexter Lake as something to verify.