Log Lake

If you are getting ready to fish Log Lake, keep the first plan simple. This lake is in Kalkaska County. It covers about 25.1 acres. The deepest recorded spot is 60 feet. On a first trip, I would use the wind, water color, visible cover, and any signs of bait to decide where to spend time on Log Lake.

Fishing at Log Lake

There is enough depth here for fish to move well away from the bank. During stable summer weather, bait depth and the usable oxygen band may matter more than shoreline cover.

Early-season fish often slide between shallow spawning areas and the nearest break. By midsummer, low light and stable cover matter more. Autumn is a good time to revisit points and weed edges as forage moves.

The opening hour is a small experiment. Keep one lure high, one in the middle, and one close to bottom. Once fish reveal a productive level, stop sampling everything and spend real time in that band.

About This Water

The available profile for Log Lake in Kalkaska County estimates vegetation coverage around 3.3 percent. That matters because plant cover can shape where baitfish, panfish, bass, and northern pike spend much of the growing season.

Fish Species

The current record for Log Lake in Kalkaska County lists Central Mudminnow, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. That is a starting point, not a promise that every species is common in every season or every part of the basin. For largemouth bass, compare shallow cover with the first firm edge before assuming the fish moved deep. Smallmouth bass make rock, harder bottom, windblown points, and offshore edges worth extra time. A small jig is a clean way to locate the active panfish depth. Stocking is kept separate from present-day abundance: the record lists Rainbow Trout. A release confirms fish were placed here, not that they survived, reproduced, or remain common today.

Fish care starts before the strike. Keep unhooking tools close, avoid placing fish on dry surfaces, and do not transfer live fish or bait between Michigan waters.

How I Would Fish It

• Study the first drop. Many fish move between shallow feeding water and the nearest depth change instead of traveling across the whole basin.
• Let wind create the route. Work the side where wind pushes food and bait, then compare it with protected water if conditions become muddy.
• Pause around cover. A brief stop beside wood, weed pockets, or rock can trigger fish that ignore a lure moving at one steady pace.
• Change weight before color. A lighter or heavier presentation often fixes the depth problem faster than another paint pattern.
• Finish the cast. Fish sometimes follow until the lure changes direction or speed close to the end of the retrieve.

Slow fishing is not always a signal to change lures. Sometimes the better move is leaving dead water. Look for one new ingredient, such as greener weeds, harder bottom, shade, or fresh current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start fishing?

Start with the windward side if it remains fishable, then compare it with protected water. The better combination of clarity, bait, and cover should set the day's direction.

When should I change spots?

If Log Lake is not showing bait, bites, followers, or healthy cover after a fair try, change depth or move to a different type of water. Do not stay put only because the spot looks good.

What should I check before the trip?

Check species-specific rules, seasonal closures, weather, and water level. If ice is involved, treat local measurements and current conditions as essential rather than assuming a lake is uniformly safe.