Sweet Lake near Greilickville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sweet Lake sits within Benzie County in Michigan. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. At roughly 21 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Start from Greilickville, 12 miles down the road. Beyond it, Traverse City at 13 miles and Frankfort at 19 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Sweet Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Benzie County include yellow perch, rock bass and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Sweet Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in January and 68°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Sweet Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest recorded ramp is Stevens Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Black Lake, 0.7 miles out. Rules at Sweet Lake are worth checking on the day.