Mud Lake near Frankfort: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Manistee County in Michigan is where Mud Lake sits. It sits at 915 feet above sea level. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Manistee County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Frankfort sits 11 miles out. Manistee lies 20 miles off, Kingsley another 30 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Manistee County include alewife, rainbow smelt, bloater, johnny darter and lake trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Mud Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The water borders Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Glovers Lake is 2.6 miles off. What applies at Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.