Gidding Lake Fishing Guide, Kent County, Michigan

• Overview

  Gidding Lake is set in Kent County, Michigan. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 33 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Cedar Springs, is 4.1 miles distant. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 22 miles distant. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Gidding Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Kent County include bluegill, rock bass, johnny darter and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Gidding Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 21°F in January and 70°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Gidding Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Lower Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Gidding Lake locally before you travel.