Fishing at Lemon Lake, Manistee County, Michigan

• Overview

  Lemon Lake lies in Manistee County, Michigan. The ground around here is rolling bush. At about 37 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 1.0 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. 20 miles away sits Frankfort, the nearest town. Then Manistee, 22 miles, and Kingsley, 23 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lemon Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Manistee County cover alewife, rainbow smelt, bloater and johnny darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Lemon Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 21°F in January to roughly 68°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That shapes the year on Lemon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Healy Lake at 2.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Lemon Lake carry more weight than any list.