Green Lake in Otsego County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Otsego County, Michigan, this is Green Lake. The water sits 1,270 feet up. About 4 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Otsego County standards. The town to know is Gaylord, 5.3 miles out. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 153 miles distant. Also within reach: Porcupine Lakes 0.7 miles away, Pettifor Lake about 1.6 miles, Martin Lake 1.7 miles away, Flott Lake about 2 miles and West Lake 2 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Green Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Otsego County include rock bass, white sucker and largemouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Green Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Green Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Porcupine Lakes at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Green Lake for certain.