Fishing Ovidhall Lake in Muskegon County, Michigan

• Overview

  Muskegon County, Michigan, is where Ovidhall Lake sits. The water sits 791 feet up. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. Kent City lies 5 miles from the water. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 22 miles distant. What else is close: Mud Lake after 0.7 miles, Half Moon Lake at 1.1 miles, Coles Lake after 1.2 miles, Duitelmans Lake at 2.6 miles and Skipperville Lake after 3.6 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Ovidhall Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Muskegon County list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, flathead catfish and walleye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Ovidhall Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 70°F and January about 21°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Ovidhall Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 0.7 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Ovidhall Lake.