Fishing at Mud Lake, Charlevoix County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mud Lake sits in Charlevoix County, out in Michigan. The ground around here is rolling bush. The water covers some 29 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The nearest town is East Jordan, 3.8 miles away. Beyond it, Boyne City at 4 miles and Bay Harbor at 14 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Charlevoix County include rainbow smelt, alewife, shortjaw cisco, bloater and shortnose cisco. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Mud Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 19°F in January and 67°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Mud Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Deer Lake at 3.4 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.