Fishing at Pearson Lake, Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Pearson Lake lies in Newaygo County, Michigan. It lies 1,007 feet above sea level. 8.5 miles away sits White Cloud, the nearest town. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 44 miles distant. Others close at hand: Pickerel Lake within 1 mile, Carey Lake at 2.1 miles, Bisel Lake within 2.2 miles, Lee Lake at 2.2 miles and Mast Lake within 2.4 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pearson Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Newaygo County records list largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Pearson Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 20°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Pearson Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a 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. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Pickerel Lake is 1 mile distant. Confirm access to Pearson Lake locally before you travel.