Fishing Lost Lake in Manistee County, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Manistee County, Michigan. The surface lies 771 feet up. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Manistee County list. Head to Manistee, 19 miles away, for anything you forgot. Baldwin is 21 miles away, with Scottville at 24 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Manistee County include alewife, rainbow smelt, bloater and johnny darter. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Lost Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 21°F in January to roughly 68°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That shapes the year on Lost Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Launch at Dorner Lake Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Crystal Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Lost Lake locally before you travel.