Mallard Lake Fishing Guide, Otsego County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Otsego County, Michigan, sits Mallard Lake. It lies 1,266 feet above sea level. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Otsego County are larger. For supplies, Gaylord is 5.2 miles out. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 147 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Otsego County include rock bass, white sucker and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Mallard Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mallard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Goose Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Mallard Lake for certain.