Little Bass Lake Fishing near Mio, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Oscoda County, Michigan, sits Little Bass Lake. It sits in rolling bush country. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Head to Mio, 14 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Lewiston (15 miles) and Hubbard Lake (23 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Bass Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name largemouth bass, white sucker, bluegill and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Little Bass Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 67°F and January at 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly 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. The season on Little Bass Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Bass Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Little Bass Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.