Shavenaugh Lake Fishing Guide, Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  Shavenaugh Lake sits in Benzie County, out in Michigan. The water sits 797 feet up. At roughly 4 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Benzie County. Greilickville is the closest town at 12 miles. Further out sit Traverse City (12 miles) and Kingsley (19 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Shavenaugh Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Benzie County, recorded fish include yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass and white sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Shavenaugh Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 20°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Shavenaugh Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A ramp at Lake Ann Boat Launch is mapped half a mile away. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A toilet block sits half a mile away. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Marys Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Shavenaugh Lake.