Mirror Lake Fishing near Kingsley, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Mirror Lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The setting is pine and birch on every side. Small at around 10 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Grand Traverse County standards. The closest town, Kingsley, is 8.8 miles away. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 112 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Grand Traverse County list rock bass, yellow perch, white sucker and smallmouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Mirror Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 19°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mirror Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Spring Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Mirror Lake.