Tibbets Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, sits Tibbets Lake. It sits at 860 feet above sea level. It measures about 39 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Around 1.1 miles of margin, front to back. Some 7.3 miles away sits Traverse City, the nearest settlement. It is 120 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tibbets Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Grand Traverse County: rock bass, yellow perch, white sucker and smallmouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Tibbets Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 20°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Tibbets Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, High Lake is 0.4 miles off. Signs at Tibbets Lake carry more weight than any list.