Healy Lake State Park in Michigan

Trip Overview

About the middle of August, I head to Healy Lake for some of the finest camping and fishing in Michigan. Healy Lake and the state park offer large bluegills, crappies and bass in northern Michigan.

Healy Lake is a no wake lake about 1/2 miles across ranging in depths of 20-55' deep. Bluegills in the 9" range are common and paddling around this lake is a pleasure because it is sheltered by surrounding forest and no cottages. Campsites are shaded and spacious w/vault toilets, running pump water and the usual picnic tables with fire rings.

Crappies run in the 10-14" sizes and bass to 20". Few campers (if any) fish this lake that features 24 campsites. It is quiet and rather private. I practice Catch & Release w/the bass and "In the Grease" with the Bluegills that are so strong that they "take line out" as you try to reel them in and take more line out when they get close to your yak! Getting them into your yak requires a net!

Gentle breezes by day and a mirror reflection of the sky in the evening is the order of the day regarding this body of water.

Should you decide to fish this lake, August is cricket month tipped w/a wax worm for 'gills while using a crappie jig tipped w/a minnow for crappies. For Bass, a rubber worm hooked in the middle will do you well. One word of caution: the fish in this lake are well fed with insects from the surrounding forest and are picky as hell. Cold fronts also affect how and when they bite! Keep those factors in mind and give this lake a try.

See you in August.

Outfitting:

Moken 10'

Fees:

Campground: $13 nightly

Directions:

North on US 31 to Bear Lake, East on 13 mile road east to Healy Lake Rd. north to Healy Lake State Park (Wilderness Camp).

Resources:

Michigan DNR website:

http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/