Fishing at South Crooked Lake, Crawford County, Michigan

• Overview

  South Crooked Lake is set in Crawford County, Michigan. What surrounds it is mixed forest. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. 8.9 miles away sits Mancelona, the nearest town. After that come Kalkaska at 15 miles and Grayling at 15 miles. Water in the same corner: North Crooked Lake within 0.7 miles, North Blue Lake 1.4 miles off, MacNeil Pond within 1.7 miles, Waddell Pond 1.9 miles off and Blue Lake within 2 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on South Crooked Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Crawford County records list white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At South Crooked Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. South Crooked Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. North Crooked Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat South Crooked Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.