Gun Lake in Mason County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Gun Lake lies in Mason County, Michigan. The surface lies 719 feet up. At about 234 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs about 2.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. On our Mason County list it sits near the top for size. Scottville sits 10 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Manistee follows at 13 miles, then Ludington at 16 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Gun Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Mason County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and johnny darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Gun Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 21°F in January and 69°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Gun Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Edging Lake, 0.7 miles away. Signs at Gun Lake carry more weight than any list.