Lake Five Fishing near Kalkaska, Michigan

• Overview

  Lake Five lies within the bounds of Kalkaska County, Michigan. The bank gives way to mixed forest. About 19 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Kalkaska, 6.1 miles down the road. For a city, Grand Rapids is 128 miles off. Close by you also have: Lost Lake after 1.2 miles, Lake of the Woods 2 miles away, Perch Lake after 2 miles, Manistee Lake 2.2 miles away and Post Lake after 2.4 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lake Five

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name yellow perch, white sucker, rock bass and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Lake Five gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Lake Five runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking sits 0.9 miles out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Lost Lake, 1.2 miles out. Treat Lake Five as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.