Fishing at Jehnsen Lake, Mecosta County, Michigan

• Overview

  Jehnsen Lake sits in Mecosta County, out in Michigan. It sits in rolling bush country. Surface area runs to roughly 316 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The outline measures near 6.0 miles, so local knowledge counts. Size puts it in the front rank of our Mecosta County list. For supplies, Canadian Lakes is 8.6 miles out. It is 55 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Jehnsen Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Mecosta County include bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Jehnsen Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 69°F and January about 19°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Jehnsen Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Jehnsen Lake Boat Launch gives a made launch, half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Big John Brown Lake is 1.1 miles off. Nothing on Jehnsen Lake should be assumed from this page alone.