Cook Lake Fishing in Alger County, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Alger County, Michigan. Elevation runs to 840 feet. The water covers some 130 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. On our Alger County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Munising, 13 miles away. K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base lies 29 miles off, Gladstone another 30 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Cook Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Alger County include yellow perch, rainbow smelt, northern pike and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Cook Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 15°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. 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. On Cook Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Aleck Lake is 0.6 miles off. For Cook Lake in particular, ask before you travel.