Harvey Lake Fishing Guide, Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  Harvey Lake stands in Benzie County, Michigan. It stands 784 feet above sea level. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Benzie County list. Greilickville sits 13 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Traverse City at 13 miles and Frankfort at 18 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Harvey Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Benzie County include yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass and white sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Harvey Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 68°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Harvey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Upper Woodcock Lake at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Harvey Lake.