Pickerel Lake Fishing near Baldwin, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Pickerel Lake falls inside Newaygo County. It stands 856 feet above sea level. It measures about 124 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. On our Newaygo County list it sits near the top for size. You are 8.2 miles from Baldwin. White Cloud lies 16 miles off, Reed City another 18 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Newaygo County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and johnny darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Pickerel Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 20°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Pickerel Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Sisson Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Pickerel Lake before loading the car.