Fishing Grass Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Grass Lake is one of the Kalamazoo County listings for Michigan. It sits at 896 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 25 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Comstock Northwest at 2.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 43 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Kalamazoo County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Grass Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 23°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Grass Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Oatman Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Grass Lake as something to verify.