Drum Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Drum Lake falls in Presque Isle County, part of Michigan. The bank is 794 feet above sea level. Roughly 93 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 2.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Start from Rogers City, 13 miles down the road. Alpena lies 31 miles off, Lewiston another 31 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Drum Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Presque Isle County records list rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater and lake whitefish among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Drum Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Drum Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Lake Ann is 0.7 miles distant. For Drum Lake in particular, ask before you travel.