Fishing at Grass Lake, Saint Joseph County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Saint Joseph County end of Michigan holds Grass Lake. The land about it is pine and birch. With some 28 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. 3.9 miles away sits White Pigeon, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is South Bend, 36 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Saint Joseph County: bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and pink salmon. The county list is broader than any single water. At Grass Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 23°F at the bottom of winter. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. Open water usually runs from late March until about mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Grass Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Klinger Lake Public Boat Launch is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Klinger Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Grass Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.