Rifle Lake in Ogemaw County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Rifle Lake in the Ogemaw County part of Michigan. The ground round it is lake country bush. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The town to know is West Branch, 2.7 miles out. Saint Helen lies 11 miles off, Skidway Lake another 11 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Rifle Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Ogemaw County include bluegill, rock bass, pink salmon, largemouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Rifle Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 17°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. On average, early April opens the water and early December closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Rifle Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Deer Lake is 0.5 miles off. Confirm before you fish Rifle Lake.