Middle Eighteenmile Lake Fishing near Gladstone, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Middle Eighteenmile Lake, in Delta County. The ground round it is pine and birch. The water covers some 39 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It ranks high for size among our Delta County listings. Gladstone is the closest town at 20 miles. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 124 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Middle Eighteenmile Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Delta County cover white sucker, alewife and rock bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Middle Eighteenmile Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 15°F to 65°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Middle Eighteenmile Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Lower Eighteenmile Lake, 0.9 miles out. For Middle Eighteenmile Lake in particular, ask before you travel.