Ellsworth Lake Fishing near Stockbridge, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Ellsworth Lake falls inside Livingston County. It sits at 886 feet above sea level. The water covers some 43 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 1.3 miles keeps the choices simple. Stockbridge lies 4.8 miles from the water. Beyond it, Chelsea at 7.9 miles and Pinckney at 8.2 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Ellsworth Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. At Ellsworth Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 71°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. Climate figures give an open season running late March to mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Ellsworth Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Boyce Lake, 0.8 miles away. Ask locally about Ellsworth Lake if anything is unclear.