Fishing at Ratigan Lake, Kent County, Michigan

• Overview

  Ratigan Lake stands in Kent County, Michigan. The setting is lake country bush on every side. It measures about 70 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 1.2 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kent County list. Forest Hills at 6 miles is the nearest place to stop. Lowell lies 8.3 miles off, Northview another 8.6 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Ratigan Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Kent County include bluegill, rock bass and johnny darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Ratigan Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 70°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Ratigan Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. McCarthy Lake, 1.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Ratigan Lake in what we hold.