Fishing at Five Channels Dam Pond, Alcona County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Alcona County end of Michigan holds Five Channels Dam Pond. The surroundings are mixed forest. Surface area is around 222 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 5.5 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Alcona County. Sand Lake is the closest place, 9.9 miles off. Lansing sits 127 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Five Channels Dam Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Alcona County list white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, northern pike and brown bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Five Channels Dam Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Five Channels Dam Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Goose Lake, 2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Five Channels Dam Pond carry more weight than any list.