Olcott Lake in Jackson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Olcott Lake is one of the Jackson County waters in Michigan. The setting is lake country bush. With some 45 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Napoleon sits 2.5 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Michigan Center (4 miles) and Grass Lake (4.9 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Olcott Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Jackson County records list bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Olcott Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 71°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Expect Olcott Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. You can camp about 0.9 miles away, going by the mapping. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Little Olcott Lake, 0.6 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Olcott Lake.