Dairy Lake in Luce County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Dairy Lake in Luce County, Michigan. The bank is 807 feet above sea level. Small at around 13 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest town is Newberry, 17 miles off. Munising is 43 miles away, with Manistique at 46 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Jack Lake a shade over 1.2 miles, 1.3 miles out stands Wheeler Lake, Ward Lake a shade over 1.5 miles, 1.6 miles out stands South Wheeler Lake and Moon Lake a shade over 1.7 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Dairy Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Luce County include yellow perch, white sucker, walleye, pink salmon and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Dairy Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 16°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The water is typically free of ice between late April and early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Dairy Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Jack Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Ask locally about Dairy Lake if anything is unclear.