Stillwell Lake in Van Buren County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Van Buren County, Michigan, this is Stillwell Lake. Height above sea level is 659 feet. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is low-lying compared with other Michigan water we list. Bangor sits 5.8 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 45 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Stillwell Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Van Buren County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and pink salmon. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Stillwell Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 71°F and January near 23°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late March. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about late December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Stillwell Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Upper Jeptha Lake Boat Launch gives a made launch, half a mile off. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Upper Jeptha Lake, 0.6 miles out. The position on Stillwell Lake is worth confirming on the day.