Lake Bricker in Branch County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Branch County, Michigan, is where Lake Bricker sits. This is lake country bush country. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Branch County. Fremont sits 4.5 miles from the bank. Coldwater is 10 miles and Reading 11 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lake Bricker

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Branch County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and warmouth among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lake Bricker the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 71°F and January about 22°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Bricker.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Little Coldwater Lake, 0.9 miles out. The position on Lake Bricker is worth confirming on the day.