Smith Lake near Mio: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Smith Lake lies in Oscoda County, in Michigan. It lies 1,115 feet above sea level. The water covers some 25 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The closest town, Mio, is 5.5 miles distant. Lansing sits 140 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Not far off: Sherwood Pond out at 0.6 miles, Horseshoe Lake about 1.2 miles, Perry Lake out at 1.7 miles, Mud Lake about 2.4 miles and McCreedie Lake out at 3.2 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Oscoda County cover largemouth bass, white sucker, bluegill, brown trout and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Smith Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 17°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Smith Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A boat ramp sits about 120 yards from the water. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Sherwood Pond is 0.6 miles distant. Ask locally about Smith Lake if anything is unclear.