Mahaney Lake near Howard City: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Montcalm County end of Michigan holds Mahaney Lake. Elevation runs to 919 feet. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Some 7 miles away sits Howard City, the nearest settlement. Grand Rapids sits 30 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Mahaney Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Montcalm County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, white sucker, johnny darter and pink salmon. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Mahaney Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mahaney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Barnard Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Mahaney Lake should be assumed from this page alone.