Lake Ottawa is situated in Southwest Michigan, United States. The lake's primary fish species include largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Visitors can enjoy nearby activities such as hiking, biking, camping, and boating. Fishing tips for Lake Ottawa include using plastics or spinnerbaits for bass and live bait for bluegill and crappie. The best time to visit Lake Ottawa for fishing is during the spring and early summer months when the water temperature is between 60°F to 80°F. The average temperature during this time is around 70°F.

Featured Fish - Black Crappie

It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.