Little Clinton Lake near Saint Johns: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Clinton County in Michigan is where Little Clinton Lake sits. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. Supplies mean a trip to Saint Johns, 4 miles off. For a city, Lansing is 22 miles off. Others worth noting: Searles Lake at 0.2 miles, Big Clinton Lake a touch under 0.3 miles, Collier Creek at 6 miles, Foster Drain a touch under 6.5 miles and Rainbow Lake at 7.5 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Little Clinton Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Clinton County records list bluegill, pink salmon, yellow perch and black crappie among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take Little Clinton Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 71°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Little Clinton Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. There is somewhere to leave the car, 160 yards off. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about 150 yards away. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Searles Lake is 0.2 miles off. What applies at Little Clinton Lake may have changed since it was mapped.