Lake Bellaire Fishing in Antrim County, Michigan

• Overview

  Lake Bellaire lies in Antrim County, in Michigan. It sits at 577 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 2.8 sq miles, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Shoreline length is close to 10 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. It is among the larger waters listed here for Antrim County. Bellaire sits 2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Rapid City at 8.6 miles and Mancelona at 8.7 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Bellaire

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Antrim County: brook trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Lake Bellaire rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 68°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Lake Bellaire to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Clam Lake is 2.1 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Lake Bellaire.