Pencil Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Otsego County in Michigan is where Pencil Lake sits. The bank gives way to lake country bush. It measures about 46 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.2 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest town is Gaylord, 9.7 miles off. After that come Mancelona at 11 miles and Bellaire at 19 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Pencil Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Otsego County include rock bass, white sucker and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Pencil Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 67°F at the top of summer and 17°F at the bottom of winter. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Pencil Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Little Fawn Lake is 1 mile distant. For Pencil Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.