Lake Three Fishing in Otsego County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Lake Three falls inside Otsego County. Elevation runs to 1,263 feet. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Gaylord at 2.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Boyne City lies 19 miles off, Mancelona another 20 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lake Three

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Otsego County: rock bass, white sucker, largemouth bass and northern pike. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work Lake Three in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 17°F in January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Lake Three runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lake Five sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Lake Three may have changed since it was mapped.