Mercedes Lake Fishing near Vandercook Lake, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Jackson County, Michigan, this is Mercedes Lake. It sits in lake country bush. About 9 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Jackson County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Vandercook Lake, 3.7 miles away. For a city, Ann Arbor is 37 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Mercedes Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Jackson County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Mercedes Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Mercedes Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Flinton Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Mercedes Lake.