Fishing at Kirchner Lake, Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Newaygo County, Michigan, sits Kirchner Lake. It stands 794 feet above sea level. About 9 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Fremont, 12 miles down the road. It is 49 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. Also within reach: Bar Lake within 0.4 miles, McLaren Lake at about 0.6 miles, McLeam Lake within 1 mile, Butternut Lake at about 1.1 miles and Tourcotte Lake within 1.1 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Kirchner Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Newaygo County records list largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Kirchner Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 21°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Kirchner Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Bar Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Kirchner Lake before loading the car.