Little Mud Lake Fishing near East Jordan, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Little Mud Lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. Elevation runs to 650 feet. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Charlevoix County standards. You are 4 miles from East Jordan. Beyond it, Boyne City at 7.5 miles and Charlevoix at 8.8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Little Mud Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Charlevoix County: rainbow smelt, alewife, shortjaw cisco and bloater. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Little Mud Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan any trip to Little Mud Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Steele Lake is 2.1 miles distant. Confirm access to Little Mud Lake locally before you travel.