Lake Nettie in Presque Isle County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Presque Isle County, Michigan. The water sits 781 feet up. At some 297 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 6.2 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It is among the larger waters listed here for Presque Isle County. The closest town, Rogers City, is 12 miles away. Indian River is 31 miles and Alpena 32 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake Nettie

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Presque Isle County records list rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater and lake whitefish among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Lake Nettie repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 18°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Nettie.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Launch at Lake Nettie Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lake Wilson sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Lake Nettie is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.