Fishing at Deer Lake, Charlevoix County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Deer Lake belongs to Charlevoix County. It lies 692 feet above sea level. At some 463 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Around 3.7 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. On our Charlevoix County list it sits near the top for size. Start from Boyne City, 3.9 miles down the road. After that come East Jordan at 7.2 miles and Petoskey at 14 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Charlevoix County include rainbow smelt, alewife, shortjaw cisco, bloater and shortnose cisco. The county list is broader than any single water. At Deer Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 19°F in January to roughly 67°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Deer Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Forest Lake is 3.4 miles off. Signs at Deer Lake carry more weight than any list.