Fishing Saubee Lake in Barry County, Michigan

• Overview

  Saubee Lake lies in Barry County, in Michigan. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. With some 77 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 2.3 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. 5.5 miles away sits Lake Odessa, the nearest town. Further out sit Nashville (8.9 miles) and Portland (12 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Saubee Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Barry County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and pink salmon among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Saubee Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Saubee Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. Tamarack Lake State Game Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Tamarock Lake, 0.4 miles out. Rules at Saubee Lake are worth checking on the day.