Third Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Mecosta County, Michigan, sits Third Lake. The bank is 1,024 feet above sea level. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Mecosta County standards. You are 7.7 miles from Canadian Lakes. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 48 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Third Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Mecosta County: bluegill, largemouth bass and rock bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Third Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 69°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Third Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Harris Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Third Lake should be assumed from this page alone.