Pickerel Lake Fishing near Rockford, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Kent County, Michigan, this is Pickerel Lake. The bank is 846 feet above sea level. Around 83 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Shoreline comes to about 1.5 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Few waters listed in Kent County are bigger. Some 5.7 miles away sits Rockford, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Northview at 7.1 miles and Belmont at 7.3 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Kent County records list bluegill, rock bass, johnny darter, largemouth bass and black crappie among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Pickerel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Pickerel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Someone has mapped a fishing spot half a mile off. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Little Bostwick Lake, 0.6 miles away. Confirm access to Pickerel Lake locally before you travel.