Green Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Kalkaska County entry here is Green Lake, in Michigan. The water sits 984 feet up. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. Around 1.4 miles of margin, front to back. 3.9 miles away sits Mancelona, the nearest town. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 135 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Green Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Kalkaska County: yellow perch, white sucker, rock bass and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Green Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 19°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Green Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. 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 the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Lake Arthur at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Green Lake are worth checking on the day.