McDonald Lake Fishing in Barry County, Michigan

• Overview

  Barry County, Michigan, is where McDonald Lake sits. It sits at 741 feet above sea level. At roughly 18 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Middleville, is 5.7 miles away. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 24 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on McDonald Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read McDonald Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to McDonald Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a ramp at McDonald Lake Canoe Launch, 140 yards out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Williams Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm access to McDonald Lake locally before you travel.