Mud Lakes in Kalamazoo County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Kalamazoo County, Mud Lakes is a Michigan water. It lies 764 feet above sea level. Small at around 10 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Kalamazoo County are larger. 5.5 miles away sits Plainwell, the nearest town. For a city, Grand Rapids is 41 miles off. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lakes

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Kalamazoo County include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Mud Lakes before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 71°F and January about 23°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The lid tends to go about late March and return around mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Mud Lakes fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Barbour Lake is 2 miles distant. Rules at Mud Lakes are worth checking on the day.