Lake May, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Presque Isle County, Michigan. It sits at 810 feet above sea level. Roughly 189 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 2.5 miles of margin, front to back. Few waters listed in Presque Isle County are bigger. The nearest place of any size is Rogers City, 13 miles away. Alpena is 29 miles and Lewiston 31 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Lake May

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Presque Isle County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, lake whitefish and lake trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Lake May in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in January to roughly 67°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Lake May runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A ramp at Lake May Boat Launch is mapped half a mile away. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Horseshoe Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Lake May.