Section One Lake Fishing near Gaylord, Michigan

• Overview

  Section One Lake is an Otsego County water, Michigan side. It sits in rolling bush. Roughly 59 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. For supplies, Gaylord is 12 miles out. Grayling follows at 14 miles, then Lewiston at 15 miles. Also worth knowing: 0.2 miles out stands Marsh Lake, Guthrie Lake within 0.8 miles, 1.1 miles out stands Bull Frog Lake, Barnes Lake within 1.6 miles and 2.4 miles out stands Timber Lake. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Section One Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Otsego County records list rock bass, white sucker, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Section One Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in January up to 67°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Section One Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Marsh Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Section One Lake is worth confirming on the day.