Amber Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Ontonagon County end of Michigan holds Amber Lake. It lies 1,266 feet above sea level. Some 28 miles away sits Ontonagon, the nearest settlement. Wakefield lies 33 miles off, Eagle River another 38 miles. Within a short drive: Steusser Lake 0.9 miles away, Tanlund Lake lies 2.8 miles on, Erickson Lake 3.4 miles away, Johnson Lake lies 3.7 miles on and Pickle Pond 4.1 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Amber Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Ontonagon County include yellow perch, pink salmon, walleye, brook trout and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Amber Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 65°F and January near 11°F on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Amber Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Launch at Steusser Lake Boat Launch, 0.9 miles from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Steusser Lake is 0.9 miles off. Where Amber Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.