Mud Lake Fishing near Elk Rapids, Michigan

• Overview

  Mud Lake lies within the bounds of Antrim County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 656 feet. The water covers some 85 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline comes to about 1.3 miles, small enough to learn in a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Michigan listings. Nearest town is Elk Rapids, 6.3 miles off. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 135 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Antrim County: brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Mud Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 68°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way 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. The season on Mud Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Torch Lake, 2 miles away. Ask locally about Mud Lake if anything is unclear.