Schaffer Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Schaffer Lake in the Newaygo County part of Michigan. Around the bank it is lake country bush. With some 30 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It lies lower than most water we list in Michigan. The closest town, Twin Lake, is 6 miles away. Grand Rapids sits 33 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Schaffer Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Newaygo County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Schaffer Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 70°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan any trip to Schaffer Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Baker Lake, 0.6 miles out. What applies at Schaffer Lake may have changed since it was mapped.