Flowage Lake Fishing near West Branch, Michigan

• Overview

  The Ogemaw County end of Michigan holds Flowage Lake. This is mixed forest ground. It runs to roughly 50 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The closest town, West Branch, is 1.7 miles distant. Then Skidway Lake, 10 miles, and Saint Helen, 12 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Flowage Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Ogemaw County cover bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Flowage Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 68°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Flowage Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. This lies within protected land, so the rules will be stricter than usual. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Rifle Lake, 2.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Flowage Lake carry more weight than any list.