Perch Lake near Harrison: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Perch Lake is a Clare County water, Michigan side. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. This is a tiny water, and one quiet approach covers all of it. Most waters listed here for Clare County are larger. Nearest town is Harrison, 11 miles off. Evart follows at 14 miles, then Clare at 14 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Clare County include bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon, northern pike and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Perch Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 68°F in July and bottoms out near 19°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At Perch Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Grass Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Perch Lake before loading the car.