River Lake Fishing near Colon, Michigan

• Overview

  River Lake sits in Branch County, out in Michigan. It sits in lake country bush. Surface area runs to about 25 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Colon sits 3.2 miles out. Athens is 7.1 miles away, with Union City at 9.2 miles. Also on the doorstep: Little Wells Lake after 0.4 miles, Big Wells Lake out at 0.4 miles, Goodrich Lake after 0.5 miles, Havens Lake out at 0.6 miles and Dane Lake after 0.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on River Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Branch County include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and warmouth. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read River Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 22°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on River Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Little Wells Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm before you fish River Lake.