Mud Lake near West Branch: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Mud Lake in the Ogemaw County part of Michigan. The setting is mixed forest on every side. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, West Branch, is 4.7 miles distant. The big place round here is Lansing, 111 miles distant. Nearby, in order: Engle Pond (1.2 miles), Peach Lake just 1.5 miles, Deer Lake (1.8 miles), Lang Pond just 1.9 miles and Rifle Lake (2.1 miles). No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Ogemaw County records list bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. On Mud Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Engle Pond, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Mud Lake.