Phelps Lake in Lenawee County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Michigan holds Phelps Lake, in Lenawee County. The surface lies 971 feet up. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Nearest town is Brooklyn, 2.6 miles off. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 29 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork. The water is easy to walk round in a long session.

• Where to Fish on Phelps Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Lenawee County include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and black crappie. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Phelps Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Phelps Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Vineyard Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Phelps Lake in particular, ask before you travel.