Burrell Lakes, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Schoolcraft County end of Michigan holds Burrell Lakes. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Start from Munising, 17 miles down the road. Then Manistique, 39 miles, and Newberry, 41 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Burrell Lakes

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Schoolcraft County include rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Burrell Lakes is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 64°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Burrell Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Long Lake is 1 mile distant. What applies at Burrell Lakes may have changed since it was mapped.