Fox Lake in Branch County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Fox Lake belongs to Branch County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 942 feet. The water measures roughly 4 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Branch County are larger. The town to know is Union City, 6.1 miles out. Coldwater follows at 7.3 miles, then Quincy at 9.9 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Fox Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Branch County: bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fox Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 22°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about mid December in an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan any trip to Fox Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Round Lake, 0.4 miles away. Nothing on Fox Lake should be assumed from this page alone.