Fish Lake near Marcellus: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Fish Lake lies within the bounds of Cass County, Michigan. The bank is 856 feet above sea level. Roughly 335 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The margin runs to about 4.3 miles in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cass County list. Marcellus is the closest town at 2.8 miles. It is 32 miles to South Bend, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Cass County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Fish Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 23°F for January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Fish Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Launch at Fish Lake Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Saddlebag Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Fish Lake is worth confirming on the day.