Sweet Lake near Sturgis: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Out in Saint Joseph County, Michigan, sits Sweet Lake. It sits at 883 feet above sea level. The water covers some 36 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.2 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Sturgis at 3.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 47 miles to South Bend, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Sweet Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Saint Joseph County records list bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Sweet Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 72°F and January near 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sweet Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is camping recorded roughly 0.9 miles off. There are toilets mapped about 0.9 miles away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Cade Lake, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Sweet Lake are worth checking on the day.