Fishing at Ransom Lake, Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Benzie County, Michigan. It stands 804 feet above sea level. Small at around 17 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. You are 10 miles from Greilickville. Then Traverse City, 11 miles, and Kingsley, 17 miles. Also on the doorstep: Mud Lake 0.9 miles off, Lake Ann a touch under 1.2 miles, Lost Lake 1.4 miles off, Bryan Lake a touch under 1.6 miles and Lyons Lake 1.6 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Ransom Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Benzie County list yellow perch, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Ransom Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in January and 68°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Ransom Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Ransom Lake Natural Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 0.9 miles out. Rules at Ransom Lake are worth checking on the day.