Fishing at Rush Lake, Montmorency County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Rush Lake in Montmorency County, Michigan. The bank is 846 feet above sea level. The water covers around 250 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Shoreline length is close to 7.0 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. Size puts it in the front rank of our Montmorency County list. Some 20 miles away sits Lewiston, the nearest settlement. For a city, Lansing is 167 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Rush Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Montmorency County include largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, rock bass and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Rush Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Rush Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Launch at Rush Lake Flooding Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Little Brush Lake, 2.1 miles away. Rules at Rush Lake are worth checking on the day.