Grass Lake Fishing near Gaylord, Michigan

• Overview

  Grass Lake falls in Otsego County, part of Michigan. It sits in rolling bush country. With some 34 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 0.9 miles on foot. The town to know is Gaylord, 16 miles out. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 165 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Otsego County: rock bass, white sucker and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Anyone new to Grass Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in January up to 67°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Grass Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Paul Bunyan Punch Bowl is 0.4 miles off. Where Grass Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.