South Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Lake County, Michigan, this is South Lake. The surface lies 830 feet up. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. You are 5.3 miles from Baldwin. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 60 miles away. Round about: Little Lake Number One about 0.3 miles, Little Lake Number Three at 0.7 miles, Little Lake Number Two about 0.7 miles, Stevens Lake at 1.6 miles and Schultz Lake about 1.7 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on South Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Lake County include rainbow trout, brook trout and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take South Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on South Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Little Lake Number One at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for South Lake in what we hold.