Jewett Lake Fishing near West Branch, Michigan

• Overview

  Jewett Lake lies in Ogemaw County, Michigan. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 13 acres — small enough to read in one session. For supplies, West Branch is 13 miles out. It is 118 miles to Lansing, the nearest city. Neighbouring water: Scaup Lake about 0.7 miles, Mallard Pond within 0.9 miles, Lodge Lake about 1.2 miles, Grousehaven Lake within 1.2 miles and Lost Lake about 1.2 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Jewett Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. 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. Species logged across Ogemaw County include bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Take Jewett Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 68°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Jewett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Devoe Lake Boat Launch gives a made launch, half a mile off. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. Mapping marks a fishing place roughly half a mile off. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Facilities run to toilets 170 yards from the water. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Scaup Lake, 0.7 miles away.