Fishing at Sherman Lake, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Sherman Lake stands in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It sits at 853 feet above sea level. The water covers some 149 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 2.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. South Gull Lake sits 2.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 45 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Sherman Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Kalamazoo County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Sherman Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 23°F at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Sherman Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Mill Pond sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Sherman Lake if anything is unclear.