Lake Maria in Charlevoix County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Maria is a Charlevoix County water, Michigan side. This is pine and birch ground. Ground here is low by Michigan standards. The nearest town is Manistique, 32 miles away. Further out sit Charlevoix (35 miles) and Bay Harbor (38 miles). Others worth noting: Barneys Lake the better part of 5 miles, Font Lake out at 5.7 miles, Round Lake the better part of 6.3 miles, Egg Lake out at 6.3 miles and Fox Lake the better part of 7.1 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Maria

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Charlevoix County: rainbow smelt, alewife, shortjaw cisco and bloater. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Lake Maria the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 66°F in August and bottom out at 20°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. At Lake Maria the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Barneys Lake sits 5 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Lake Maria may have changed since it was mapped.