Merriman Lake Fishing in Van Buren County, Michigan

• Overview

  Merriman Lake sits within Van Buren County in Michigan. It sits at 656 feet above sea level. At about 27 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It is low-lying compared with other Michigan water we list. Some 2.9 miles away sits Bangor, the nearest settlement. Hartford is 6.7 miles and Paw Paw Lake 8.3 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Merriman Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Van Buren County include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Merriman Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 24°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about late March to late December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Merriman Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. School Section Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Merriman Lake.