Fishing at First Sister Lake, Washtenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Washtenaw County, Michigan, is where First Sister Lake sits. It stands 912 feet above sea level. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Washtenaw County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to Ann Arbor, 2.7 miles off. The nearest city of size is Ann Arbor, 2.5 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on First Sister Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Washtenaw County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On First Sister Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 72°F for July and 22°F for January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. First Sister Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Dolph Nature Area covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Second Sister Lake, 0.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at First Sister Lake as something to verify.