Fourth Lake Fishing Guide, Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Newaygo County, Michigan, sits Fourth Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. Roughly 33 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 0.9 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. 1.6 miles away sits Fremont, the nearest town. Grand Rapids sits 39 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Fourth Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Newaygo County names largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fourth Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 21°F in January and 70°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Fourth Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public Boat Launch sits about half a mile away and carries the launch. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Third Lake, 0.6 miles out. Signs at Fourth Lake carry more weight than any list.