Fishing at Als Lake, Alger County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Alger County, Michigan, sits Als Lake. The bank is 840 feet above sea level. At roughly 11 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Munising sits 9.4 miles from the bank. Green Bay is the closest city, 139 miles away. Others close at hand: Upper Twin Lake lies 0.4 miles on, Big Twin Lake a touch under 0.5 miles, Peck Lake lies 0.6 miles on, Island Lake a touch under 0.9 miles and McNeil Lake lies 1 mile on. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Als Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Alger County include yellow perch, rainbow smelt, northern pike, white sucker and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Als Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 15°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Als Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Upper Twin Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Treat Als Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.