Lake Number Eighteen in Menominee County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Menominee County, Michigan, sits Lake Number Eighteen. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At about 27 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Norway at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Quinnesec at 18 miles and Niagara at 18 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Lake Number Eighteen

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Menominee County records list white sucker, johnny darter, brown trout and yellow perch among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Lake Number Eighteen the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 13°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Expect Lake Number Eighteen to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Leaper Lake, 2.1 miles out. Confirm access to Lake Number Eighteen locally before you travel.