Fishing Krafts Lake in Kent County, Michigan

• Overview

  Krafts Lake lies in Kent County, Michigan. The bank is 761 feet above sea level. About 18 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Caledonia is the closest town at 4 miles. Kentwood is 6.5 miles and Cutlerville 7.2 miles. Water in the same corner: Emmons Lake (3.7 miles), Campau Lake 3.7 miles off, Kettle Lake (3.7 miles), Buck Lake 4.3 miles off and Hanna Lake (4.7 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Krafts Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Kent County: bluegill, rock bass and johnny darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Krafts Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Krafts Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Emmons Lake at 3.7 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Krafts Lake in what we hold.