Wabasis Lake Fishing near Greenville, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Kent County, Michigan. The ground around here is lake country bush. It measures some 405 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The margin runs to about 4.8 miles in total. Among the waters listed for Kent County, none is wider. The town to know is Greenville, 6.9 miles out. Further out sit Belding (8 miles) and Rockford (9.3 miles). Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Wabasis Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name bluegill, rock bass, johnny darter and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Wabasis Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 70°F and January about 21°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. The season between ice runs from about early April to mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Wabasis Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Flat Iron Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Wabasis Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.