Spring Lake Fishing near Caledonia, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Kent County, Michigan, sits Spring Lake. The setting is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Kent County list. Caledonia sits 6.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 17 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Kent County include bluegill, rock bass, johnny darter and largemouth bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Spring Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 22°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Spring Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Clarke Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Spring Lake.