Island Lake in Clare County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Island Lake lies in Clare County, Michigan. It stands 1,050 feet above sea level. With some 42 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 1.3 miles keeps the choices simple. For supplies, Gladwin is 11 miles out. Further out sit Prudenville (13 miles) and Harrison (13 miles). It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Clare County include bluegill, largemouth bass and pink salmon. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Island Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 68°F in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Island Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Grass Lake, 0.6 miles out. For Island Lake in particular, ask before you travel.