Indian Lake Fishing Guide, Lake County, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Lake County, Indian Lake is a Michigan water. The land about it is pine and birch. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Baldwin lies 17 miles from the water. For a city, Grand Rapids is 82 miles off. Others worth noting: Squaw Lake at about 0.4 miles, Pomeroy Lakes at 0.6 miles, Papoose Lake at about 0.6 miles, Walton Lake at 1.1 miles and Elbow Lake at about 1.2 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Indian Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Indian Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Indian Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Squaw Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Indian Lake as something to verify.