Purdy Lake near South Gull Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Purdy Lake lies in Barry County, Michigan. The water sits 915 feet up. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Barry County. 4.8 miles away sits South Gull Lake, the nearest town. After that come Level Park-Oak Park at 5.5 miles and Stony Point at 6.9 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Purdy Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Barry County list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and pink salmon. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Purdy Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 71°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Purdy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Strewins Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Purdy Lake.