Fishing at Dow Lake, Emmet County, Michigan

• Overview

  Dow Lake falls in Emmet County, part of Michigan. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Nearest place of any size is Saint Ignace, 11 miles away. It is 180 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Dow Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Emmet County cover yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Dow Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 16°F in January and 67°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Dow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Twin Lake, 0.4 miles out. For Dow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.