Fishing Report For Crystal Lake, MI

By Rick Seaman

February 24, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Crystal Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Fishing Report Crystal Lake, MI

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Crystal Lake, MI

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Giant smallmouth bass live in the extremely clear water of Crystal Lake. The lake is widely-known as an exceptional smallmouth bass fishery with 5 lb to 6 lb smallmouth being caught relatively often. Once the water warms into the 50's, smallies will attack a patiently worked topwater bait. My favorite is the Rebel Pop-R. Tube baits are catching lots of wary smallmouth, as you can fish them on light line. Often, smallies are caught while trolling for lake trout as well. In Winter, the fishing is often particularly good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

Lake Trout

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Locals report catching nice lake trout through the ice this hard-water season, on Crystal Lake. Depth can vary from day to day but fish deep as they are typically holding deeper than 140'. Lake trout feed on small fish, so lures imitating baitfish, sunfish or small trout are good choices. Other choices include jigs tipped with smelt, shiners, nightcrawlers or Berkeley Power Crawlers. Flashy spoons can be fished at any depth, either jigging, trolling or cast and retrieve. For big lakers, use larger baits.

Yellow Perch

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Crystal Lake is loaded with yellow perch. Michigan anglers report catching a lot of small perch, while trying to land the bigger specimens - those 12' or longer. These fat perch provide a steady food source for larger, predator fish. In winter when ice fishing, locals are jigging spoons or jig heads tipped with minnows or bait. In early winter, focus on the southeast end of the lake, as winter progresses migrate toward the Railroad Point Natural Area. Perch can be caught from 15' to 75', depending on area and water conditions. Once Spring arrives, they move shallow and can be caught on almost any bait or lure, especially if it resembles minnows.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, lake trout, bluegill, rock bass, yellow perch, coho salmon and northern pike at Crystal Lake in Michigan.

Crystal Lake is a 9,800-acre lake with over 20 miles of shoreline, in the northwest part of the lower peninsula. This is a great trout and coho salmon fishery. Anglers can also target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and panfish. There are options for fishing from the bank. In winter there is good ice fishing.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Marinas

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Fishing License

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Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".