Elbow Lake near Newberry: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Elbow Lake belongs to Mackinac County, Michigan. Around the bank it is mixed forest. About 10 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Mackinac County standards. The town to know is Newberry, 17 miles out. Green Bay is the closest city, 166 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name white sucker, rainbow smelt, yellow perch, rock bass and alewife. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Elbow Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 17°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That is the shape of the year on Elbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Millecoquins Lake at 3.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Elbow Lake are worth checking on the day.