Lance Lake near Indian River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Out in Cheboygan County, Michigan, sits Lance Lake. Height above sea level is 810 feet. You are 13 miles from Indian River. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 166 miles distant. Not far off: Wildwood Lake sits 0.7 miles out, Mud Lake about 1.9 miles, Echo Lake sits 2.8 miles out, Storey Lake about 3.2 miles and Hackett Lake sits 3.6 miles out. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Lance Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Cheboygan County include yellow perch, rock bass, white sucker and smallmouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Lance Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 17°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Lance Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Wildwood Lake, 0.7 miles away. For Lance Lake in particular, ask before you travel.