Courtney Lake near Ontonagon: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Courtney Lake is listed under Ontonagon County, Michigan. It stands 1,158 feet above sea level. The water covers some 33 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Roughly 0.9 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. The closest town, Ontonagon, is 20 miles away. Then Baraga, 21 miles, and L'Anse, 23 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Courtney Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Ontonagon County include yellow perch, pink salmon and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Courtney Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 13°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Courtney Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Courtney Lake Boat Launch is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Sixmile Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Courtney Lake.