Fishing East Indian Lake in Crawford County, Michigan

• Overview

  East Indian Lake is a Crawford County water, in Michigan. Height above sea level is 1,207 feet. Around 66 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Crawford County listings. Mancelona lies 9.6 miles from the water. Kalkaska is 14 miles and Grayling 14 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on East Indian Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. On East Indian Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 18°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. The season on East Indian Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Indian Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to East Indian Lake locally before you travel.