Lake Whittlesey, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Michigan, Lake Whittlesey falls inside Keweenaw County. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At about 150 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. With 4.0 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. On our Keweenaw County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is Neebing, 35 miles away. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 36 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Whittlesey

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Keweenaw County include rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker and cisco. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Lake Whittlesey for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 12°F in January up to 63°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Lake Whittlesey by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lake Dustin, 0.5 miles away. Treat access at Lake Whittlesey as something to verify.