Duck Lake Fishing near Lewiston, Michigan

• Overview

  The Montmorency County entry here is Duck Lake, in Michigan. The water sits 1,240 feet up. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is Lewiston, 5.7 miles away. Gaylord is 15 miles away, with Mio at 23 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Duck Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Montmorency County cover largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Duck Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 16°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Duck Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Long Lake is 0.4 miles distant. The position on Duck Lake is worth confirming on the day.