Fishing Poplar Lake in Crawford County, Michigan

• Overview

  Crawford County in Michigan is where Poplar Lake sits. The bank is 1,211 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Crawford County standards. You are 11 miles from Mancelona. Further out sit Grayling (13 miles) and Kalkaska (14 miles). Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Poplar Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Crawford County include white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Poplar Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Poplar Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. East Indian Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Poplar Lake for certain.