Doyle Lake near Manistique: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Schoolcraft County end of Michigan holds Doyle Lake. The surface lies 696 feet up. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Schoolcraft County standards. For supplies, Manistique is 16 miles out. Green Bay is the closest city, 135 miles away. Other water within reach: Murphy Lake 0.2 miles, Hutt Lake 0.4 miles away, Little Murphy Lake 0.4 miles, Muleshoe Lakes 1.2 miles away and Cedar Lake 1.2 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Doyle Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Schoolcraft County records list rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Doyle Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 15°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Doyle Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Murphy Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Doyle Lake should be assumed from this page alone.