Mallard Lake in Kalkaska County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Mallard Lake is listed under Kalkaska County, Michigan. It sits at 1,188 feet above sea level. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Kalkaska County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 11 miles away sits Kalkaska, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 127 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Kalkaska County names yellow perch, white sucker, rock bass and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Mallard Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mallard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Bear Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Mallard Lake in particular, ask before you travel.