West Long Lake Fishing Guide, Branch County, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Branch County, West Long Lake is a Michigan water. It lies 942 feet above sea level. At about 53 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Start from Coldwater, 2.5 miles down the road. Quincy is 8.5 miles away, with Bronson at 9.3 miles. Water in the same corner: Little Long Lake 0.3 miles away, Cemetery Lake within 0.7 miles, Messenger Lake 0.9 miles away, South Lake within 1.1 miles and North Lake 1.2 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on West Long Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Branch County: bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At West Long Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 71°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate averages put the opening at about late March and the closing near mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on West Long Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Little Long Lake, 0.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at West Long Lake carry more weight than any list.