Fishing Lockwood Lake in Montmorency County, Michigan

• Overview

  Montmorency County, Michigan, is where Lockwood Lake sits. The bank gives way to mixed forest. The water covers some 111 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.3 miles of margin, front to back. The closest town, Lewiston, is 15 miles away. Then Mio, 19 miles, and Hubbard Lake, 25 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lockwood Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Montmorency County cover largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, rock bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Lockwood Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 18°F to 67°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Lockwood Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Lockwood Lake Ranch takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Blue Lake, 4 miles out. Confirm access to Lockwood Lake locally before you travel.