Garey Lake in Leelanau County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Garey Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. The country here is rolling bush. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Greilickville is the closest town at 15 miles. Green Bay is the closest city, 104 miles away. Within a short drive: Courson Lake near enough 0.4 miles, Wiltz Lake lies 0.7 miles on, Brooks Lake near enough 1.1 miles, Wells Lake lies 1.2 miles on and Hartman Lake near enough 1.2 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Garey Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Leelanau County cover alewife, rock bass, yellow perch and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Garey Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 21°F to 68°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Garey Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Courson Lake, 0.4 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Garey Lake.